How should a food handler respond if they accidentally drop food on the floor?

When a food handler accidentally drops food on the floor, the appropriate response is to discard it and not use it. This is crucial because food that comes into contact with the floor can become contaminated with bacteria, dirt, or other harmful substances. Even if the food appears undamaged or clean, the risk of contamination is high, and serving it could lead to foodborne illnesses.

Maintaining food safety standards is paramount in any food handling environment, and this action helps ensure that the food served to customers is safe to eat. The other choices might imply a level of risk management that does not align with proper food safety practices, as rinsing off or checking the cleanliness of dropped food does not adequately address the potential for harmful contaminants that may not be visible to the naked eye.