Which practice helps prevent cross contamination?

Which practice helps prevent cross contamination?

• A. Keeping raw and ready-to-eat foods apart and using separate utensils.
• B. Storing both together in the same container.
• C. Reusing cutting boards without cleaning.
• D. Washing hands only after handling raw foods.

Answer: (A)

Preventing cross contamination means stopping bacteria from raw foods from reaching foods that won’t be cooked or from the surfaces and utensils that will be reused. Keeping raw and ready-to-eat foods apart and using separate utensils creates a barrier so any juices or residues from raw meat, poultry, or fish can’t transfer to foods that are eaten without further cooking. It also means the same utensil or board isn’t used on both raw and ready-to-eat foods, reducing the chance of spreading germs. Storing everything together allows raw juices to mingle with other foods, which raises the risk of contamination. Reusing cutting boards without cleaning spreads bacteria from raw foods to other items. Washing hands only after handling raw foods misses moments when contamination could occur during other tasks or with ready-to-eat foods, and it doesn’t address contaminated surfaces or utensils.

Preventing cross contamination means stopping bacteria from raw foods from reaching foods that won’t be cooked or from the surfaces and utensils that will be reused. Keeping raw and ready-to-eat foods apart and using separate utensils creates a barrier so any juices or residues from raw meat, poultry, or fish can’t transfer to foods that are eaten without further cooking. It also means the same utensil or board isn’t used on both raw and ready-to-eat foods, reducing the chance of spreading germs.

Storing everything together allows raw juices to mingle with other foods, which raises the risk of contamination. Reusing cutting boards without cleaning spreads bacteria from raw foods to other items. Washing hands only after handling raw foods misses moments when contamination could occur during other tasks or with ready-to-eat foods, and it doesn’t address contaminated surfaces or utensils.