After handling raw animal products, what is the recommended practice?

• A. Wash your hands
• B. Wipe with a dry cloth
• C. Use hand sanitizer only
• D. Ignore hand washing if busy

Answer: (A)

After handling raw animal products, your hands should be washed with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds. This mechanical action and soap together remove bacteria and other contaminants that raw foods can leave on skin, reducing the chance of cross‑contamination to ready‑to‑eat foods. Washing is the most reliable way to sanitize hands in food handling.

Wiping with a dry cloth doesn’t remove the germs and can spread them around. Using hand sanitizer alone isn’t enough when hands are soiled or greasy from raw foods, and it won’t eliminate all pathogens. Ignoring handwashing when busy is unsafe because germs can transfer to utensils, surfaces, and foods quickly.