New York City Food Protection Practice Test

What must be installed in all culinary sinks to prevent cross-contamination?

1. Air-breaks

2. Grease traps

3. Filtration systems

4. Water softeners

The correct answer is: Air-breaks

The installation of air breaks in culinary sinks is essential to prevent cross-contamination. An air break creates a physical separation between the water supply and the wastewater drainage system, ensuring that there is no backflow of contaminated water into the clean water supply. This is particularly important in food preparation areas where sanitary conditions must be maintained to prevent foodborne illnesses. In culinary environments, the risk of contamination is heightened due to the presence of raw food, food waste, and cleaning chemicals. Air breaks serve as a safeguard, allowing used water to drain safely while maintaining the integrity of the potable water supply. This practice is crucial for compliance with health regulations and best practices in food safety. Other options like grease traps, filtration systems, and water softeners serve specific purposes in food service operations, such as managing grease and improving water quality, but they do not specifically address the direct prevention of cross-contamination in the same way that air breaks do.