Transfer of allergens from food containing an allergen to the food served to a customer

• A. Cross-Contamination
• B. Contamination
• C. Cleaning
• D. Cross-Contact

Answer: (A)

Transferring allergens from one food to another through contact or shared equipment is cross-contamination. Allergens are contaminants, and when an allergen-containing dish touches utensils, cutting boards, pans, or hands, or leaves residue on surfaces that then contact another dish, the allergen moves into the second food. This unintentional transfer is exactly what cross-contamination describes, making the second dish unsafe for someone with an allergy. While cross-contact is a term often used to highlight allergen transfer specifically, cross-contamination covers the same idea in a broader safety context, which is why it fits this description best. Contamination is too generic, and cleaning is the action used to remove contaminants rather than the transfer event itself.