Employee jewelry is considered a type of:

Employee jewelry is considered a type of physical contamination because it can introduce foreign objects into food products. Physical contaminants are defined as any objects other than food that might get into food and cause harm. Jewelry can easily fall off or break, leading to pieces being found in food, which poses a choking hazard or a risk of injury to consumers.

In contrast, biological contamination refers to harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses, while chemical contamination involves harmful substances like cleaning agents or pesticides. Thermal contamination relates to improper temperature control, which can lead to the growth of pathogens in food. Hence, the classification of employee jewelry as physical contamination aligns with its potential to compromise food safety through the introduction of unintended objects.