Riverside Food Handler Practice Test

After feeding fish in a display tank, it is essential for a food worker to wash her hands before preparing food. This step is crucial because handling fish food and interacting with the display tank can introduce bacteria and contaminants to the worker's hands. Even if gloves were used, washing hands helps to eliminate any potential pathogens that might not be transferred to gloves. Handwashing ensures the food worker maintains proper hygiene and reduces the risk of cross-contaminating the food they are about to prepare.

Other options may seem practical in maintaining cleanliness, but they do not specifically address the immediate hygiene risks posed by handling the fish and food. For instance, putting on a new apron or changing gloves may not effectively remove any germs or contaminants that may have transferred to the hands. Rinsing the face has no relevance to food preparation safety and would not mitigate the contamination risk. Overall, washing hands is the most effective step in maintaining food safety after such activities.