How should food handlers handle prepared foods?

Food handlers should use clean utensils or gloves to handle prepared foods primarily to prevent contamination. When handling ready-to-eat foods, the risk of introducing pathogens from hands or unsanitized utensils is significant. Using gloves and clean utensils creates a barrier that helps maintain hygiene and minimizes the risk of cross-contamination, which is crucial for food safety.

Using bare hands can easily transfer bacteria and other harmful microorganisms from the skin to the food, leading to foodborne illnesses. Rinsing prepared foods under water does not effectively eliminate these pathogens and can sometimes provide a false sense of security while potentially contaminating the food further. Utilizing any available utensils without ensuring they are clean increases the likelihood of using contaminated tools, which could compromise food safety. Therefore, the practice of using clean utensils or gloves is essential to maintaining safe food handling protocols.