Certified Professional Food Safety (CP-FS) Practice Exam

Which practice is crucial for preventing cross-contamination in foodservice settings?

1. Using the same cutting board for all food types

2. Storing cleaning chemicals near food

3. Using separate utensils for raw and cooked foods

4. Allowing employees to handle food with bare hands

The correct answer is: Using separate utensils for raw and cooked foods

Using separate utensils for raw and cooked foods is crucial for preventing cross-contamination in foodservice settings. This practice minimizes the risk of harmful pathogens found in raw foods, such as meats and seafood, from transferring to ready-to-eat foods, which could lead to foodborne illnesses. Cross-contamination occurs when harmful bacteria are spread from one food to another, often through direct contact or via shared utensils and equipment. By employing distinct utensils for raw and cooked foods, food handlers can significantly reduce the chance of this transmission, thereby ensuring safer food preparation and serving practices. It's a fundamental part of maintaining hygiene standards in any foodservice operation. Other practices, such as using the same cutting board for all food types or storing cleaning chemicals near food, highlight unsafe behaviors that could increase the risk of contamination. Likewise, allowing employees to handle food with bare hands can also lead to the transfer of bacteria, hence the importance of using proper utensils to maintain food safety.