California eFoodHandlers Practice Exam

When handling ready to eat foods, food employees should always use:

1. Single use gloves or utensils

2. Bare hands

3. Cotton gloves

4. Just washed hands

The correct answer is: Single use gloves or utensils

Ready-to-eat foods are foods that do not require further cooking or heating. These foods should be handled with proper precautions to prevent contamination and foodborne illness. Using single-use gloves or utensils ensures that the food is not directly touched by bare hands which may contain harmful bacteria. Choosing options B, C, or D can increase the risk of cross-contamination and should therefore be avoided. Bare hands can transfer bacteria from surfaces, cotton gloves can absorb moisture and become a breeding ground for bacteria, and just washed hands may not be completely clean or can easily become contaminated again. Therefore, it is important to always use single-use gloves or utensils when handling ready-to-eat foods.