**4. Physical contamination**

Physical contamination refers to food that is contaminated by a foreign object during production process stages. Physical contaminants in food could come from external sources, (such as metal fragments), or internal sources (such as bone particles and pits). They can enter food accidentally during pre- and postharvesting due to poor agricultural practices and also in manufacturing, storage, transportation, or retail. Some physical contaminants are considered as food safety concerns such as glass. Sometimes a physical contaminated food can also be biologically contaminated such as the presence of a fingernail. **Table 4** provides a summary of common sources of physical contaminants in foods [12].


#### **Table 4.**

*Common sources of physical contaminants in foods.*
