What should be done to food that has been cross-contaminated?

When food has been cross-contaminated, it is crucial to prioritize health and safety to prevent foodborne illnesses. Discarding it immediately is the appropriate action because cross-contamination can occur when harmful bacteria from one food item are transferred to another, which may not be cooked or handled properly.

Cooking food thoroughly may kill some bacteria, but it does not eliminate all toxins that could have been produced by harmful organisms prior to cooking. Similarly, storing contaminated food in a refrigerator will not address the contamination issue, as pathogens can continue to thrive and multiply, especially if the food will not be cooked before consumption. Rinsing the food under running water can be misleading because it may not successfully remove all pathogens, particularly if they have already penetrated the food’s surface.

Therefore, the best practice is to discard any food that has been cross-contaminated to ensure consumer safety.