How should a food worker avoid contaminating ready-to-eat food?

• A. Do not wash hands
• B. Use tongs or other utensils
• C. Wear gloves at all times
• D. Use bare hands

Answer: (B)

To prevent contaminating ready-to-eat foods, keep hands away from direct contact with the food. Using tongs or other utensils creates a barrier between your hands and the food, dramatically reducing the chance that germs, oils, or dirt from skin will transfer to the food. This is especially important for items that won’t be cooked before serving, so any contamination would remain on the surface. While washing hands is essential for overall hygiene, simply not washing hands would defeat safety goals, and wearing gloves can help in some settings but isn’t a universal substitute for proper hand hygiene and must be changed appropriately. Handling food with bare hands directly increases the risk of transferring contaminants.