Which of the following is an example of a potential cross-contamination?

Cross-contamination occurs when harmful bacteria or allergens are transferred from one food item to another, which can potentially lead to foodborne illnesses. Each of the given scenarios illustrates a situation that poses a risk for cross-contamination.

Cutting raw chicken and slicing melons on the same cutting board can result in the transfer of pathogens inherent to raw poultry, such as Salmonella or Campylobacter, to the fresh, ready-to-eat melons. Since melons are not typically cooked before consumption, this creates a significant risk for the consumer.

Filleting fish and then using the same knife to cut a chocolate cake also demonstrates cross-contamination risk. Fish can harbor parasites and bacteria that could be transferred to the cake, which is a ready-to-eat food that does not undergo any further cooking.

Storing raw foods together with ready-to-eat foods in the refrigerator can lead to contamination as raw foods may leak juices that contain harmful bacteria, which can then contaminate the ready-to-eat items. This is particularly dangerous as it often involves foods that are consumed without cooking.

Given that each example provided can lead to cross-contamination and subsequent food safety issues, the selection that encompasses all these scenarios accurately reflects the various ways in which cross-contamination can