Final answer:
Customers at a self-service station must be reminded by a food worker to wash their hands before serving themselves to prevent the spread of foodborne diseases and maintain health safety standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
A food worker is monitoring a self-service station and should remind customers to wash their hands before serving themselves. This practice is crucial for maintaining public health and safety and for preventing the spread of foodborne diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regular handwashing is one of the most effective defenses against the transmission of germs and bacteria.
Handwashing is especially important before, during, and after food handling, as well as before eating to prevent contamination. The CDC outlines a five-step process for proper handwashing that includes wetting hands with clean, running water, applying soap, scrubbing hands for at least 20 seconds, rinsing hands under clean running water, and finally drying them with a clean towel or air drying them.
It is essential for food workers and customers to get the clean hands habit, which includes washing hands thoroughly and cleaning under the fingernails, before beginning to prepare or serve food, after using the toilet, and whenever hands become soiled.