Which practice is essential for food handlers to ensure food safety?

Regularly washing hands before handling food is essential for food handlers to ensure food safety. This practice is crucial because hands can easily carry pathogens and contaminants that can transfer to food, leading to foodborne illnesses. Proper handwashing with soap and water removes these harmful microorganisms and reduces the risk of contamination.

The importance of this practice cannot be overstated, as effective hand hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective means of preventing the spread of germs in both commercial and home kitchens. It is recommended that food handlers wash their hands before preparing food, after using the restroom, after handling raw meat, and after any other activity that may compromise hand hygiene.