The Dangers of Contamination

Contamination, a topic that has been discussed exhaustively, has led the government to try its best to curb the addition of substances to drugs, fuel,  and food. However, there are still cases of outbreaks due to the addition of illegal substances to food and moreover, manufacturers looking to make a profit are continually cheating the consumer with these additives.

Producers may manipulate meat products to make more money by injecting them with water or brine to increase their weight, or may add foreign leaves to tea to increase its volume. The consumer remains oblivious, and ultimately spends too much money on a product worth far less.

Negligence by the manufacturer is another contributor to the contamination of food. Foreign materials such as marble chips, stones or sand could be found in food grains, which besides being very annoying to chew, could end up damaging the digestive tract. Contamination could also be in the form of chemical contamination, as in the example of arsenic present in apples that were treated with lead arsenate. Arsenic can lead to cramps, dizziness or even paralysis. Cadmium, a hazardous chemical that causes acute gastritis or even kidney damage could be found in soft drinks and fruit juices. Other contaminants may include bacteria such as salmonella that may be found in chicken and can cause Salmonellosis, an infection characterized by fever and cold chills.

In the end, the consumer faces the greatest loss and thus should exercise great caution when purchasing food supplies. Being aware of the common adulterants is the first step. If they can afford it, they should opt for clearly labelled organic products that are packaged without addition of extra substances. Although it may not be a foolproof method, it does go a long way to avoid the problems caused by contamination. It is also recommended that one go for the natural option, where instead of buying apple-flavored juice, one should just buy the apple instead.