Final answer:
Sneeze guards should extend at least 7 inches beyond the food to provide adequate protection against pathogens expelled during a sneeze.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sneeze guards should extend at least 7 inches beyond the food to provide adequate protection against pathogens expelled during a sneeze. This is to prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including colds, flu, and COVID-19. By extending the sneeze guards beyond the food, any droplets from a sneeze will be caught by the barrier instead of reaching the food.