How can pests contaminate food and surfaces?

Pests can contaminate food and surfaces primarily by spreading microorganisms, which poses a significant health risk in food safety. When pests, such as rodents or insects, come into contact with food or food preparation surfaces, they can transfer harmful pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These microorganisms can proliferate in food environments, leading to foodborne illnesses when consumed by humans.

While pests can certainly consume food products, leaving trash around can create attractive breeding grounds, and noise from pests can indicate their presence, these factors do not directly relate to contamination in the same critical manner as the spread of microorganisms does. The concern with food safety revolves around the potential for pathogens to be transferred from pests to food or preparation areas, making the focus on microorganisms essential in preventing foodborne illness.