Preventing Cross-Contamination in Food Handling
Gabe fries chicken at Country Boy Restaurant
What are the hazards created by Gabe's actions and what action should you take?
Gabe did not remove his gloves before handling the cooked meat. The raw meat has contaminated the gloves. Meat is decontaminated when it is cooked. By touching the cooked meat directly after handling the raw meat he has recontaminated the cooked meat. You should always wash your hands and change gloves after handling raw meat.The hazards created by Gabe's actions are:
- Cross-contamination - Food poisoning - Violation of food safety regulationsCross-contamination of raw and cooked chicken
This can happen when Gabe touches raw chicken with his gloves and then touches cooked chicken without washing his hands or changing gloves. This can transfer harmful bacteria from the raw chicken to the cooked chicken, which can cause food poisoning.The potential for food poisoning
If Gabe does not take steps to prevent cross-contamination, the customers who eat the cooked chicken could get sick with food poisoning. Symptoms of food poisoning can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. In severe cases, food poisoning can lead to hospitalization or even death.The violation of food safety regulations
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strict regulations in place to prevent food poisoning. If Gabe's actions are discovered, the restaurant could be fined or even shut down.Do you think Gabe's actions are serious enough to cause harm to customers?
No customers should be put at risk when it comes to food safety. Cross-contamination and mishandling of food can have serious consequences for customers' health. It is important for all food handlers to follow proper food safety procedures to ensure the well-being of customers.