The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that food travels through a production chain, from farms or processing plants to our tables, and contamination can occur at any stage—production, processing, distribution, or preparation. Contamination risks include germs from animals, unclean water, improper handling during processing, or unsafe practices during distribution and preparation. Everyone plays a role in food safety by cooking food thoroughly, washing hands, storing food properly, and maintaining clean preparation areas. To learn more, visit the CDC website at How Food Gets Contaminated: The Food Production Chain.
Note: The infographic provided by the CDC was replaced by the page provided above which now includes a video discussion.
