What should be done if food is suspected to be contaminated?

If food is suspected to be contaminated, the appropriate action is to discard it immediately. This precaution is vital because consuming contaminated food can lead to foodborne illnesses, which pose serious health risks to customers. Once food is suspected of being unsafe, it should not be cooked or consumed, as cooking does not guarantee the destruction of all types of contaminants, such as certain toxins or pathogens that could remain after cooking.

Returning contaminated food to a supplier or storing it for future use could potentially lead to the risk of illness if it ends up being circulated back to consumers. While cooking food might eliminate some harmful bacteria, it does not eliminate all risks, particularly with regard to certain contaminants. The safest course of action is to ensure that food that might pose a health risk is discarded immediately to protect public health and adhere to food safety regulations.