In allergen management, what does cross-contact mean?

• A. Transfer of allergens from one food to another via utensils, surfaces, or hands.
• B. Transfer of flavors between dishes
• C. Labeling cross-check
• D. Sharing ingredients

Answer: (A)

Cross-contact means the unintended transfer of an allergen from one food to another through shared utensils, surfaces, or hands. This is the type of exposure allergen management aims to prevent because even tiny amounts can cause reactions for some people. For example, using the same cutting board or knife for peanut-containing foods and a nut-free item, or not washing hands and tools between tasks, can transfer allergen and make a safe-looking dish unsafe.

The other ideas aren’t about actual transfer of allergen to another food: flavors moving between dishes aren’t the allergen risk we’re talking about; labeling cross-check is about making sure boxes and ingredients are described correctly; sharing ingredients relates to sourcing, not the transfer problem that cross-contact addresses.