Food contamination can occur in numerous ways. For example, dioxins can enter the food chain at any point of the production cycle and contaminate the food chain. Antibiotics can also enter the food chain through use in farmed seafood and growth hormones in meat. Aflatoxins also appear in dried fruits and nuts due to poor handling, or poor storage. Heavy or toxic metals like mercury, lead and arsenic can appear in the food chain as environmental contaminants in grains and fish.
As a business, you need to be aware of potential environmental and process contaminants such as growth hormones and aflatoxins entering the food chain. When ingested by your consumers, those contaminants can be harmful, seriously affecting human health. They can even cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones, and cause cancer.
As a result, you must have your food tested for the levels of such contaminants to meet the legal and export requirements. This will help protect your business and brand and minimise the risk of negative health impacts.