What is a common physical hazard that may be found in food preparation areas?

Pieces of plastic represent a common physical hazard in food preparation areas because they can unintentionally contaminate food products and pose a risk to consumers. This contamination can occur when equipment breaks, packaging materials are improperly handled, or disposable utensils are discarded into food preparation areas.

Physical hazards, like pieces of plastic, can cause injury if ingested, leading to choking, cuts, or internal injuries. Identifying and managing these physical hazards is crucial to maintaining food safety and ensuring the well-being of consumers. In contrast, the other options represent different categories of hazards; for instance, benzene is a chemical hazard, viruses are biological hazards, and pesticides fall under chemical hazards, which are important to manage but do not fit under the common definition of physical hazards in this context.