Which of the following is not a common practice to prevent cross-contamination?

Which of the following is not a common practice to prevent cross-contamination?

• A. Using separate utensils for raw and cooked foods
• B. Washing hands frequently
• C. Storing raw meat above cooked food
• D. Cleaning surfaces regularly

Answer: (C)

Storing raw meat above cooked food is not a common practice to prevent cross-contamination. In fact, this practice poses a significant risk to food safety because any juices or contaminants from the raw meat could drip onto the cooked food below it, leading to the transfer of harmful bacteria. The other practices mentioned—using separate utensils for raw and cooked foods, washing hands frequently, and cleaning surfaces regularly—are all effective methods for maintaining food safety and preventing cross-contamination. Using separate utensils helps to ensure that pathogens from raw foods do not come into contact with those that are ready to eat. Frequent handwashing eliminates germs that could be transferred to food, while regular cleaning of surfaces reduces the risk of contaminating food that comes into contact with those surfaces. Therefore, option C is clearly the practice that contradicts the principles of preventing cross-contamination.

Storing raw meat above cooked food is not a common practice to prevent cross-contamination. In fact, this practice poses a significant risk to food safety because any juices or contaminants from the raw meat could drip onto the cooked food below it, leading to the transfer of harmful bacteria.

The other practices mentioned—using separate utensils for raw and cooked foods, washing hands frequently, and cleaning surfaces regularly—are all effective methods for maintaining food safety and preventing cross-contamination. Using separate utensils helps to ensure that pathogens from raw foods do not come into contact with those that are ready to eat. Frequent handwashing eliminates germs that could be transferred to food, while regular cleaning of surfaces reduces the risk of contaminating food that comes into contact with those surfaces. Therefore, option C is clearly the practice that contradicts the principles of preventing cross-contamination.