Which statement about handwashing is correct when cooking?

• A. Handwashing is optional if you wear gloves.
• B. You should wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
• C. You should never wash your hands during cooking.
• D. You should only wash your hands after using the restroom.

Answer: (B)

Handwashing is how you protect food from germs. When you wash with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, the soap helps loosen oils and lift microbes from your skin, and the scrubbing action clears them away so they rinse down the drain. This should be done before you start cooking and any time your hands might be contaminated—after handling raw meat or eggs, after touching garbage, after using the restroom, or after sneezing or coughing. Gloves aren’t a substitute for washing your hands; they can still leak or trap germs, and you should wash hands before putting gloves on and after removing them. Simply rinsing with water or washing only after certain activities isn’t enough to keep food safe.