What should food service employees do before handling food?

Before handling food, food service employees should wash their hands. This practice is essential in preventing foodborne illnesses and ensuring food safety. Washing hands effectively removes contaminants, such as bacteria, viruses, and dirt, which can be transferred to food during preparation or service.

Handwashing is a critical component of hygiene in food service environments because employees often come into contact with various surfaces and potentially harmful substances that can lead to contamination. Proper handwashing should be done with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds and should occur at key times, such as before food handling, after using the restroom, and after touching any potentially contaminated surfaces.

While putting on gloves can be part of safe food handling, gloves do not replace the need for handwashing. Sanitizing surfaces is important for cleanliness but is not the first step employees should take before handling food. Grooming their appearance contributes to overall hygiene but does not directly prevent contamination during food preparation. Therefore, washing hands is the primary measure that must be taken before handling food.