What should be done if food has been cross-contaminated?

When food has been cross-contaminated, the safest course of action is to throw it away. Cross-contamination occurs when harmful microorganisms or allergens are transferred from one food to another, which can lead to foodborne illnesses. Once food has been compromised in this way, there is no reliable method to eliminate the potential dangers through cooking or refrigeration.

Cooking food longer may kill some bacteria, but it does not address any toxins that may have been produced by the bacteria before cooking. Similarly, serving cross-contaminated food immediately can pose serious health risks, as the contaminants present could cause illness. Refrigerating the food also fails to resolve the risk of contamination; pathogens may survive at refrigerator temperatures and still pose a danger upon consumption.

For these reasons, discarding the cross-contaminated food is the only responsible action to ensure food safety for everyone consuming the food.