True or False: Sanitizing is the first step in creating a safe food contact surface.

The statement that sanitizing is the first step in creating a safe food contact surface is false. The correct initial step is cleaning. This involves removing food residues, dirt, and any other contaminants, which is crucial because sanitizing can only be effective on a clean surface. If a surface is not adequately cleaned, sanitizers may not reach the germs effectively. Therefore, effective food safety practices dictate that cleaning should precede sanitizing to ensure that the surfaces are properly prepared for the sanitization process to work as intended.

Periodic sanitation may be necessary in certain high-risk areas, but it does not replace the fundamental rule that cleaning is the first essential action in preparing surfaces that come into contact with food. Additionally, sanitizing is a critical part of food safety, but it is not an action that can be skipped or performed without prior cleaning; it must follow the cleaning procedure to enhance food safety adequately.