What should be done if food is suspected to be contaminated?

When food is suspected to be contaminated, the best action is to discard it immediately. This approach ensures safety, as consuming contaminated food can lead to foodborne illnesses that pose significant health risks. The process of discarding the food prevents any potential harm to consumers, as it eliminates the chance of ingesting pathogens or harmful substances that may be present.

Serving the food cautiously or rinsing it does not effectively mitigate the risks associated with contamination. Rinsing might reduce some surface contaminants but won’t eliminate pathogens that are embedded in or on the food. Similarly, cooking food longer may kill some harmful microorganisms but does not guarantee that the food is safe, especially if toxins produced by certain bacteria are present.

Thus, the most prudent and safe decision in the case of suspected contamination is to discard the food immediately to protect public health.