During a shift, when should you wash your hands to transition between raw and ready-to-eat foods?

During a shift, when should you wash your hands to transition between raw and ready-to-eat foods?

• A. Only after breaks.
• B. After using the restroom and after breaks.
• C. Before starting work, after handling raw foods, after breaks, and whenever hands become contaminated or dirty.
• D. Before starting work and after lunch.

Answer: (C)

Preventing cross-contamination happens by washing hands at key times in the flow of food handling. You should wash before you start work to have clean hands from the get-go, after handling raw foods to remove any bacteria that could transfer to ready-to-eat items, after breaks to clear off any contaminants picked up during rest or eating, and whenever hands become contaminated or dirty—like after touching waste, money, cleaning materials, or after coughing or sneezing. This combination covers all the main transition points between raw and ready-to-eat foods, reducing the risk of spreading pathogens.

Preventing cross-contamination happens by washing hands at key times in the flow of food handling. You should wash before you start work to have clean hands from the get-go, after handling raw foods to remove any bacteria that could transfer to ready-to-eat items, after breaks to clear off any contaminants picked up during rest or eating, and whenever hands become contaminated or dirty—like after touching waste, money, cleaning materials, or after coughing or sneezing. This combination covers all the main transition points between raw and ready-to-eat foods, reducing the risk of spreading pathogens.