Question

Ready-to-eat food that may have been contaminated by a food handler who has been restricted or excluded should be?

1) Discarded
2) Washed thoroughly
3) Cooked at a high temperature
4) Stored in a separate area

Answer 1

Contaminated ready-to-eat food should be discarded to avoid foodborne illnesses. Good hygiene, avoiding cross-contamination, and proper temperature control are essential food safety practices. Wash all produce and maintain foods at safe temperatures to ensure food safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ready-to-eat food that may have been contaminated by a food handler who has been restricted or excluded should be discarded to prevent the spread of foodborne diseases. The safety of food can be compromised through poor hygiene, cross-contamination, and failure of temperature control. For this reason, it is crucial to follow strict food handling protocols to ensure the health and safety of consumers. Regular handwashing, using different utensils and cutting boards for raw and ready-to-eat foods, and complying with recommended temperature guidelines are all essential practices to avoid contamination.

Food safety practices such as keeping cooked foods at the right temperature and washing fruits like melons before cutting are also important to prevent microbes from contaminating the food's interior. If food is suspected to be contaminated, it should not be consumed, even if reheated, as some toxins produced by bacteria are heat-resistant.