A manager is training staff on personal hygiene. Which everyday habit is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of foodborne pathogens by employees?
a.Wearing cologne, which covers kitchen odours
b.Chewing gum for alertness during service
c.Frequent, proper handwashing at the right times
d.Keeping long polished nails looking neat
Explanation
Frequent, correct handwashing at the right moments is the single most effective personal-hygiene control against foodborne illness, since hands are the main vehicle for transferring pathogens to food. Cologne only covers odour and does nothing to a pathogen, and gum-chewing is prohibited in prep areas because it moves saliva to the hands and food. Long polished nails harbor pathogens and can chip into food, so the Code keeps nails short, clean, and unpolished unless gloves are worn.
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