Final answer:
Sneeze guards are designed to protect food from contamination and must extend 7 inches beyond the food to meet health regulations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sneeze guards are an important health and safety feature used in food service areas to protect food from contamination. According to health regulations, sneeze guards should extend 7 inches beyond the food in order to provide proper protection from contaminants such as aerosols generated by sneezing or coughing.
This requirement is enforced to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses and to maintain high standards of hygiene in environments where food is displayed or served.