High School

A food handler will be wearing single-use gloves to chop lettuce for an hour. When must the food handler's hands be washed?

a) Before putting on gloves
b) Only if the gloves tear during use
c) At the end of the hour when changing gloves
d) Before starting the task and after changing gloves

Answer :

Final answer:

A food handler should wash their hands before putting on gloves and after changing gloves, as recommended by the CDC. This is crucial to prevent the spread of foodborne diseases and ensure the safety of the food being prepared and served.

Explanation:

The correct answer to when a food handler's hands must be washed is both before putting on gloves and after changing gloves. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's imperative to wash hands before, during, and after food handling to prevent the spread of foodborne diseases. Hands should also be washed whenever they become soiled to maintain proper hygiene.

It's especially important in settings such as restaurants or cafeterias where food handlers have a responsibility to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the food being prepared and served. Even if gloves are worn, handwashing is a required step before the gloves are put on to reduce the risk of transferring any bacteria from the hands to the food. Once gloves are changed, hands should again be washed to remove any contaminants that might have penetrated the gloves or could be present on the hands after glove removal.