Troy carried a platter of raw hamburgers to the grill. When the burgers were done, he returned the cooked hamburgers to the original platter. This is an example of which risk factor that makes food unsafe?

This scenario illustrates cross-contamination, which occurs when harmful microorganisms or allergens are transferred from one food or surface to another. In this case, when Troy returned the cooked hamburgers to the original platter that previously held raw hamburgers, he risked introducing pathogens from the raw meat to the cooked product. Cooked foods need to be handled with care to prevent any contact with raw foods, as the bacteria present in raw meat can survive and cause foodborne illness if they contaminate the cooked food.

Understanding this concept is crucial for food safety because preventing cross-contamination is essential in any food preparation process. It involves using separate utensils, cutting boards, and serving platters for raw and cooked foods to maintain a safe cooking environment and protect consumer health.