What crucial action should employees take before handling food?

Washing hands thoroughly before handling food is essential for preventing foodborne illnesses and ensuring food safety. Hands can carry harmful bacteria and viruses from various surfaces or personal contact. Proper handwashing not only removes these pathogens but also helps prevent cross-contamination, which is when harmful microorganisms are transferred from one surface or food to another. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that food handlers should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom, before and after handling food, and after engaging in any activity that could contaminate their hands.

While removing outer clothing, wearing a hairnet, and checking food temperatures are all important practices in a food safety environment, they do not directly address the immediate risk of contamination that can occur from unwashed hands. Therefore, implementing thorough handwashing procedures is the most critical action to maintain hygiene and safety in food handling.