How to Prevent the Most Common Chemical Contaminants

The industry faces countless food contamination threats, ranging from microorganisms to heavy metals. One of the more overlooked forms of contamination comes from chemicals, both industrial and naturally occurring, despite the fact that the 2024 IFIC Food & Health Survey found the presence of carcinogens and pesticides to be among the top food safety issues for respondents. 

If these chemical contaminants reach consumers, they can accumulate and cause major adverse health events that take significant time to detect, putting consumers even more at risk. It’s critical for food and beverage manufacturers to be mindful of the different types of chemicals that create hazards throughout their supply chain and to prevent contamination from happening. 

What is chemical food contamination? 

Chemical food contamination is essentially any kind of chemical substance unintentionally present in food and beverage products that poses a risk to human health. Chemical contaminants can originate from a surprising variety of sources, including agricultural practices, food facility operations, packaging materials, or the environment itself. 

Some of the most common types of chemical food contamination stem from: 

• Cleaning solutions used to wash and sanitize equipment 
• Pest control poisons used to control rodent and insect populations 
• Food additives that violate FDA regulations, either in terms of concentration levels or actual presence 
• Antibiotics fed to livestock to prevent infection 
• Pesticides used on farms that can become embedded in crops 
• Mycotoxins that can grow in a variety of food products 
• Non-safe plastics (BPA, PVC, and polystyrene) 
• Processing aids (perlite or diatomaceous earth) 
• Equipment maintenance products (like lubricants) 
• Naturally occurring contaminants found in water, air, and soil 
• Food processing contaminants, including undesirable compounds formed during baking, roasting, canning, heating, fermentation, or hydrolysis 

How to Prevent the Most Common Chemical Contaminants 

Any of these chemicals can create a wide variety of health problems if consumers are exposed, ranging from gastrointestinal upset to long-term cancer risk. Here are the best chemical food contamination mitigation strategies: 

1. Use cleaning and sanitizing solutions appropriately 

Improper use of cleaning agents can leave harmful residues on food contact surfaces that easily transfer to food products for ingestion by consumers. It's essential to use only cleaning and sanitizing solutions that are optimized for the surface being cleaned — not only ensuring adequate sanitation, but also minimizing the potential for residue. 

Follow proper protocols to thoroughly wash solutions off equipment, ensuring they do not transfer to food products. Failure to do so can trigger a recall. 

2. Outsource pest control to experts 

Not only do pest control specialists have the knowledge, experience, and tools to effectively manage and eliminate pests, but they also know how to utilize pesticide and rodenticide chemicals in a way that minimizes contact with food products, ensuring the manufacturing environment remains both sanitary and safe. 

Leveraging professional pest control services also helps food and beverage manufacturers focus more on their own competencies without putting food safety compliance at risk from inadequate pest control. 

3. Screen for hazards effectively 

Preventing chemical residue in the first place is ideal, but it’s not always the reality. It’s critical to also verify your practices are working in the event that food contact surfaces do harbor harmful chemicals. Routinely test food contact surfaces for the presence of industrial cleaning solutions to ensure employees are properly rinsing after cleaning. Conduct tests on ingredients and other raw commodities for pesticide residues and other chemicals to avoid allowing contaminated items into your operation. 

4. Invest in food safety training 

Preventing and identifying chemical food contamination begins with equipping your employees with the knowledge and skills needed to protect public health. It’s important not only to train frontline workers in Good Manufacturing Practices and proper food safety and sanitation protocols, but also to periodically refresh them with follow-up training that reinforces adherence and keeps them up to date on best practices. 

Enhance Food Safety With AIB International 

The quality of your team’s food safety training is just as important as its frequency. Food processing workers need guidance from trusted, expert leaders in the industry to uphold standards and keep the public safe. 
 
AIB International offers a wide variety of online and in-person training and certifications, backed by over a century of experience on the front lines of the industry. Want to empower your team to prevent chemical food contamination? Learn more about our Food Safety and Sanitation Online training.