Before handling food, what should you wash?

Before handling food, what should you wash?

• A. Your hands
• B. Your feet
• C. Your face
• D. Your arms

Answer: (A)

Washing hands is essential before handling food because hands touch so many surfaces and can carry germs that cause illness. Soap and warm running water remove most bacteria and dirt, helping prevent contamination of the food you’ll prepare. Do it for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing all parts of the hands—between fingers, under nails, and around the wrists—then rinse and dry with a clean towel. This single step dramatically lowers the risk of spreading germs to meals. Other body parts aren’t used for this cleaning step, so washing feet, face, or arms wouldn’t provide the same protection for the food.

Washing hands is essential before handling food because hands touch so many surfaces and can carry germs that cause illness. Soap and warm running water remove most bacteria and dirt, helping prevent contamination of the food you’ll prepare. Do it for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing all parts of the hands—between fingers, under nails, and around the wrists—then rinse and dry with a clean towel. This single step dramatically lowers the risk of spreading germs to meals. Other body parts aren’t used for this cleaning step, so washing feet, face, or arms wouldn’t provide the same protection for the food.