Under California Retail Food Code §113961, when is a food employee permitted to touch ready-to-eat food with bare hands?
Explanation
HSC §113961 prohibits bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat (RTE) food and requires the use of suitable utensils such as deli tissue, spatulas, tongs, single-use gloves, or dispensing equipment. Bare-hand contact is allowed only if the operator has an approved Alternative Method Procedure (AMP) under §113961(c) that includes a written employee health policy enforcing exclusion for the Big 6 illnesses, documented training, AND at least two additional control measures (such as double handwashing, nail-brush use, alcohol-based hand antiseptic, or pH/water-activity control). Without that approval on file, gloves or utensils are mandatory. Options B, C, and D describe convenient but non-compliant shortcuts; the law makes no exception for recent handwashing, ownership status, or food temperature. The rule exists because norovirus and Hepatitis A are shed in stool and can persist on hands even after thorough washing.
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