Public Health Question

Presented By
Monmouth County Regional Health Commission No. 1

January 20, 2018

 Are the food service staff at a location following health department guidelines regarding;
BARE HAND CONTACT WITH FOOD?

1. In a food service setting, what is the main reason for washing hands and not touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands?
2. When must a food service employee wash their hands?
3. What can I as a member of the public do with a ready-to-eat food item if it was touched with bare hands?

In a food service setting, what is the main reason for washing hands and not touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands?

Answer:

The main reason for not touching ready-to-eat foods with bare hands is to prevent viruses and bacteria which are present in your body from contaminating the food. Viruses and bacteria are invisible to the naked eye, but may be present on your hands if you do not wash them thoroughly, particularly after using the bathroom. The law prohibits bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods and requires good hand washing by food service workers.

When must a food service employee wash their hands?

Answer:

• Before starting work
• Before putting on single service gloves
• After touching raw, fresh or frozen beef, poultry, fish or meat
• After mopping, sweeping, removing garbage or using the telephone
• After using the bathroom
• After smoking, eating, sneezing or drinking
• After touching anything that might result in contamination of hands

What can I as a member of the public do with a ready-to-eat food item if it was touched with bare hands?

Answer:

You can either heat the food thoroughly to the temperature required for cooking or reheating, or discard the food, if it was touched with bare hands.