Certified Professional Food Safety (CP-FS) Practice Exam

What is the best way to prevent hand-to-food contamination?

1. Wearing gloves at all times

2. Washing hands with soap and water before handling food

3. Using utensils instead of hands

4. Avoiding direct contact with food

The correct answer is: Washing hands with soap and water before handling food

Washing hands with soap and water before handling food is the most effective method to prevent hand-to-food contamination. This practice ensures the removal of dirt, bacteria, viruses, and pathogens that may be present on the skin. Proper handwashing involves scrubbing all areas of the hands, including between the fingers and under the nails, for at least 20 seconds. This significantly reduces the risk of transferring harmful microorganisms to food, thereby promoting food safety. While wearing gloves can help reduce contamination risks, it is not a substitute for handwashing. Hands should still be washed before putting on gloves and whenever gloves are changed. Similarly, using utensils instead of hands can minimize direct contact with food, but if hands are not properly washed beforehand, utensils can still become contaminated. Avoiding direct contact with food is also a preventive measure, but it is not always practical or necessary for all food handling tasks. Before working with food, the most critical step is to ensure hands are clean, which is effectively achieved through thorough washing with soap and water.