New York City Food Protection Practice Test

Which of the following should never be used when working with ready-to-eat foods?

1. Disposable gloves

2. Utensils like tongs and spoons

3. Bare hands

4. Deli paper

The correct answer is: Bare hands

Using bare hands when handling ready-to-eat foods can lead to the unintentional transfer of harmful bacteria and pathogens from an individual's skin to the food. These ready-to-eat foods are items that will not undergo further cooking, which means that any contamination introduced through bare hands could pose a significant food safety risk, leading to foodborne illnesses. Proper food handling practices emphasize the importance of using barriers, such as disposable gloves, utensils like tongs and spoons, or deli paper, to ensure that ready-to-eat foods remain uncontaminated. The use of these tools serves as a protective measure to maintain food safety standards and ensure the health of consumers.