Which of the following best defines contaminated food?

• A. Food that is clean.
• B. Food that is expired.
• C. Food that is undercooked.
• D. Food that contains harmful bacteria.

Answer: (D)

Contamination means harmful microorganisms are present in the food. The phrase that food contains harmful bacteria directly fits this idea, because bacteria can multiply and cause illness if eaten, making the food unsafe. Saying a food is clean means no contamination is present, so that doesn’t fit. Expired food can be unsafe for various reasons, but expiration isn’t the definition of contamination itself. Undercooked describes how the food was prepared and may allow bacteria to survive, but it doesn’t by itself define contamination—the presence of bacteria does.