What is an example of poor personal hygiene for food handlers?

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $4.99 payment

Study for the California Food Handler Test. Enhance your knowledge with multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations. Prepare confidently for your certification!

Not reporting illness or injury is an example of poor personal hygiene for food handlers because it poses a significant risk to food safety. Food handlers are responsible for ensuring that they do not contaminate food with pathogens that could cause foodborne illnesses. When a food handler is ill or has an injury that could potentially expose food to contaminants, it is critical that they inform their supervisors or managers so appropriate actions can be taken, such as assigning them to different duties or excluding them from food preparation activities altogether. Failing to report such conditions can lead to the spread of illness through food, compromising the health of consumers.

In contrast, behaviors like consistently washing hands before food preparation, wearing clean uniforms, and maintaining clean work surfaces indicate good personal hygiene practices that help prevent food contamination and ensure a safe food handling environment.