What should food handlers do to promote cleanliness?

Frequent handwashing with soap and water is crucial for food handlers as it is one of the most effective methods to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses. It removes dirt, bacteria, and other contaminants from the hands, ensuring that food is not contaminated during preparation, serving, or processing. Health guidelines emphasize that handwashing should occur after handling raw foods, before touching ready-to-eat items, and at various points throughout food preparation to maintain hygiene. This practice is vital in promoting overall cleanliness in food handling environments.

Using disposable gloves only may give a false sense of security, as gloves can become contaminated and handlers may not substitute handwashing for glove use. Performing cleaning tasks with bare hands fails to protect the handler and customers from potential contaminants, while simply wiping surfaces without proper sanitization does not adequately reduce pathogens, risking food safety.