According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food-borne illnesses can be prevented by practicing the correct personal hygiene when handling food. While it may seem like common knowledge to wash your hands before dealing with food, you must follow other hygiene procedures to ensure you don't inadvertently spread bacteria and contaminate food.
Hand Washing
Personal hygiene when dealing with food begins with cleaning your hands the right way, especially after using the restroom. It's not enough to just quickly rinse hands with a dab of soap. Run warm water (not overly hot or you can irritate your skin) and wet your hands. Add half a palm full of liquid soap and rub your hands together to form a thick lather. Clean your hands for at least 20 seconds to ensure the soap and warm water have enough time to kill any germs on your hands before you touch any food. Make sure you clean underneath your nails and between your fingers where germs like to hide. Rinse your hands, then dry them completely with a clean towel or air dryer. If any moisture is left on your hands, bacteria can build up.
Gloves
Washing your hands should be sufficient in your own kitchen, but if you're serving a crowd, wear disposable plastic gloves when assembling food. This is especially important if you have any cuts or wounds on your hands. According to the University of Missouri Extension, bacteria can grow in any skin sores and that bacteria can spread to any food you touch with your hands. If you cough, sneeze or rub your nose while wearing your gloves, throw them away and get new ones to prevent spreading any germs.
Hair
If you have long hair, pull it back into a tightly secured bun so it doesn't hang near your face. The University of Missouri Extension reports that hair is a source of bacteria. Hair that hangs loosely is more likely to shed into food and contaminate the dish with germs. When you pull your hair back into a bun, make sure no pieces frame your face or could easily get near your eyes. If you're constantly having to push your hair out of your eyes, you're more likely to spread the germs from your hair to your hands or gloves that handle food.
Contamination
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that it's essential to ensure that bacteria from raw meat and poultry does not contaminate other foods and kitchen surfaces. If proper personal hygiene isn't followed to prevent cross-contamination of meat and poultry with other foods, it can spread food-borne infections such as salmonella or E.coli. Wash your hands or change your gloves every time you handle any type of raw meat or poultry. This includes if you touch any utensil or surface that came into contact with raw meat.
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