ABSTRACT

Most consumers are aware of the fact that hard objects that do not belong in food nevertheless sometimes are present. This is because most consumers have personally found such objects. Furthermore, most such encounters are innocuous in nature. Certain foods are so frequently endowed with physical objects (e.g., grit in spinach) that we are surprised if such objects are not found. In other instances, the encounter between the consumer and 618a physical object in food or drink may result in an injury, the severity of which may vary widely.