At a self-service station, which behavior should customers follow to prevent cross-contamination?

• A. Return unused utensils to the bin
• B. Use clean dishes each time they take food
• C. Skip washing hands
• D. Eat while serving

Answer: (B)

Using a clean dish each time you take food is the best way to prevent cross-contamination at a self-service station. A fresh plate isn’t carrying residues or germs from previous servings, so it won’t transfer anything from one food item to another as you serve yourself. This keeps pathogens from moving from plate to food and from one person to the next.

Actions like returning unused utensils to the bin can spread germs between utensils and the bin, skipping handwashing leaves hands full of bacteria that can transfer to food, and eating while serving can put saliva and other contaminants into the food. Keeping hands clean and using a new clean dish for each serving minimizes these risks.