Final answer:
True, supermarkets should have separate departments for different food types such as raw meat, fish, poultry, and produce to prevent cross-contamination and ensure consumer health.
Step-by-step explanation:
True: Supermarkets should indeed have separate departments for raw meat, fish, poultry, and produce in order to prevent cross-contamination. Cross-contamination occurs when harmful microbes, such as Salmonella, are transferred from one food product to another. This is particularly dangerous when raw foods, which commonly harbor these bacteria, come into contact with ready-to-eat foods like fruits, vegetables, or bread that will not be cooked to eliminate bacteria.
Major United States grocery stores are usually organized into various departments including dairy, meats, produce, etc. Each department stores numerous products that customers purchase and consume. If a knife or cutting board used to prepare meat is then used for produce without proper cleaning, the risk of cross-contamination is high. Similarly, maintaining separate areas for different types of food prevents such contamination and protects consumer health. This setup is not only efficient but necessary for upholding food safety standards and ensuring the predictability and control of a sanitary shopping environment.