Food Contamination (also known as Contamination, Food, Contaminations, Food): The presence in food of harmful, unpalatable, or otherwise objectionable foreign substances, e.g. chemicals, microorganisms or diluents, before, during, or after processing or storage.

NIH MeSH · D005506Technology, Industry, and Agriculture

Food Contamination

Also known asContamination, Food · Contaminations, Food · Food Contaminations · Food Adulteration · Adulteration, Food · Adulterations, Food · Food Adulterations

Definition

The presence in food of harmful, unpalatable, or otherwise objectionable foreign substances, e.g. chemicals, microorganisms or diluents, before, during, or after processing or storage.

MeSH classification

  • J01.576.423.850.730.500.249
  • N06.850.460.400
  • N06.850.601.500.249

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Related concepts

Food Contamination, Radioactive

Exposure of FOOD to radioactive substances, distinguishable from FOOD IRRADIATION, a food preservation technique.

Food Inspection

Examination of foods to assure wholesome and clean products free from unsafe microbes or chemical contamination, natural or added deleteriou…

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points

A system of safety management (abbreviated HACCP) applied mainly to the food industry. It involves the analysis and control of biological, c…

Common questions about Food Contamination

What does Food Contamination mean in medicine?
The presence in food of harmful, unpalatable, or otherwise objectionable foreign substances, e.g. chemicals, microorganisms or diluents, before, during, or after processing or storage. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Food Contamination known by any other names?
Yes. Food Contamination is also referred to as Contamination, Food, Contaminations, Food, Food Contaminations, Food Adulteration in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Food Contamination sit in the medical classification?
Food Contamination falls under the broader medical category "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: J01.576.423.850.730.500.249, N06.850.460.400, N06.850.601.500.249). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Food Contamination?
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Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D005506) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗