When should food handlers practice good personal hygiene?

Practicing good personal hygiene is crucial for food handlers to prevent foodborne illnesses and ensure food safety. Good personal hygiene involves maintaining cleanliness before, during, and after handling food. This includes washing hands thoroughly with soap and water at critical times, such as before starting food preparation, after using the restroom, after handling raw foods, and after any activity that could contaminate hands.

The reason the third option is the most appropriate is that it emphasizes the importance of hygiene at all times, highlighting the necessity of cleanliness throughout the food handling process. This vigilance helps minimize the risk of cross-contamination and maintains the overall quality of the food being prepared. Focusing solely on specific moments, like only before handling food or only after using the restroom, neglects other important times when handwashing and hygiene practices are necessary. Therefore, it's vital for food handlers to adopt a comprehensive approach to personal hygiene whenever they are involved in food preparation and service.