What is the greatest loss caused by mice infesting food?

The greatest loss caused by mice infesting food primarily stems from the contamination they introduce. While mice do consume food (which is a significant loss), the more critical issue is that they can contaminate much larger quantities of food with their droppings, urine, and fur, rendering it unfit for human consumption. This contamination can lead not only to waste of food resources but also to potential health risks if the contaminated food is ingested.

Food contamination can severely impact food safety and public health, as it may introduce pathogens that cause illness. The wide-reaching implications of contamination make it a more substantial concern than the actual quantity of food consumed, as the latter is limited by how much mice can eat at once, whereas the contamination can affect entire batches or lots of food products. This highlights why the focus on contamination aligns with concerns about health and safety in food handling and pest management practices.