What is an example of physical contamination in food?

Physical contamination in food occurs when foreign objects or substances are unintentionally introduced, potentially causing harm to consumers. In this context, bones in fish exemplify physical contamination because they are tangible items that can pose a choking hazard or could injure a person's mouth or throat if ingested. The presence of bones, while a natural part of the fish, is considered a contaminant when they are unexpected and pose a risk to the consumer.

Other examples of physical contamination, like insects in the food or dust on the food, also pertain to foreign objects, but in this case, the clarity of the hazard is more pronounced with bones since they are specifically associated with the food item itself and can lead to immediate negative health outcomes. Improperly stored chemicals, although they can lead to chemical contamination, do not fit the description of physical contaminants as they refer to substances that could infuse food with toxic properties rather than tangible debris.