Final answer:
Color-coded cutting boards and utensils help prevent cross-contamination by ensuring that separate utensils and surfaces are used for different types of foods, reducing the risk of bacterial transfer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Using color-coded cutting boards and utensils is an effective strategy to help prevent cross-contamination. Cross-contamination occurs when microbes are transferred from one food to another, which is a common mechanism for the spread of foodborne illnesses. For instance, using the same cutting board for raw meat and then for slicing vegetables without proper cleaning can transfer harmful bacteria from the meat to the produce. Therefore, color-coding helps to keep items that are used for different types of foods separate, reducing the risk of such bacterial transfer. It is important to use this practice alongside proper food safety procedures such as thorough cleaning and cooking foods to appropriate temperatures to ensure the elimination of potential contaminants.