Smoking, vaping, and using smokeless tobacco are addressed under California Retail Food Code §113974. Which statement is correct?
Explanation
California Retail Food Code HSC §113974 prohibits all forms of tobacco use, including cigarette smoking, electronic cigarettes/vaping, and smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco, snus, dip), in food preparation areas, food storage areas, warewashing areas, and around exposed clean utensils and single-service items. Smokeless tobacco is explicitly included because users frequently spit, contact their mouths with hands, and contaminate hands and surfaces with saliva that carries oral bacteria and respiratory viruses; in addition, the discard cup or bottle is a contamination hazard. Vaping is treated identically to smoking because exhaled aerosol contains nicotine, flavorings, and propylene glycol residues that can settle on food and surfaces. Option B is non-compliant because vaping is treated as smoking. Option C ignores the saliva and hand-to-mouth contamination route. Option D invents a non-existent end-of-shift exception. Use is allowed ONLY in a designated break area that is physically separated from food zones, and the employee must wash hands thoroughly before returning to work.
Law Reference: HSC §113974Practice all 319 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- A food employee is wearing single-use gloves to assemble sandwiches. After 90 minutes of continuous work she changes from making sandwiches to slicing tomatoes for a salad. What is the correct glove practice?
- Under California Retail Food Code §113969, which of the following hair restraints worn by a food employee working at a sandwich prep line is COMPLIANT?
- Under California Retail Food Code §113973, which of the following items of jewelry is the ONLY one permitted on the hands or arms of a food employee who handles exposed food?
- A food employee wants to drink a bottle of water while working the prep line. Under California Retail Food Code §113974, which option describes the ONLY compliant way to drink while on duty in a food prep area?
- A food employee is using disposable gloves while making sushi rolls without interruption. According to California Retail Food Code §113961 and §113973, what is the MAXIMUM continuous time the same pair of gloves may be worn on the same task before they MUST be removed and replaced (assuming no contamination event occurs first)?
- Under California Retail Food Code §113949.1, a food employee diagnosed with a Big 6 reportable foodborne illness (e.g., Salmonella, Shigella) must report the diagnosis to the person in charge within what time frame?
Last reviewed: · editorial process