A busy cook wants to use a hand antiseptic (hand sanitizer) instead of washing hands. When is this acceptable?
a.Only after properly washing and drying hands; sanitizer is applied in addition to, never in place of, handwashing
b.In place of washing after using the restroom, whenever the line is busy and the handwashing sink is across the kitchen
c.Whenever the hands look and feel clean, so a full wash is needed only when soil is visible
d.At any time, in place of washing, because alcohol gel kills more pathogens than soap and water
Explanation
Hand antiseptics may be used only after hands are properly washed and dried; they supplement but never replace handwashing, because sanitizer does not remove soil and is less effective on soiled hands or against some pathogens like Norovirus. Substituting gel after the restroom is a serious violation no matter how busy the line is or how far the sink sits. Hands that look and feel clean can still carry pathogens, and gel is weaker than soap and water precisely where it matters most, on hands carrying fecal contamination.
Law Reference: FDA Food Code §2-301.16Practice all 500 questions free — no signup required.
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