What is a key safety rule in food handling?

The emphasis on washing hands before and after handling food is crucial to preventing foodborne illnesses. This practice helps to eliminate harmful bacteria and germs that could transfer from your hands to the food, ensuring the safety of the food being prepared and consumed. It creates a barrier against cross-contamination, which can occur when pathogens from raw foods or dirty hands come into contact with ready-to-eat foods.

Maintaining hand hygiene is vital, especially in culinary environments where the risk of contamination is higher. By washing hands at both these critical times, food handlers significantly reduce the risk of spreading foodborne pathogens, thus protecting not only the consumers but also the overall integrity of the food preparation process.