When should hands be washed after handling raw food?

Hands should be washed after handling raw food to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of harmful pathogens that may be present in raw food, especially meats or seafood. It is crucial to maintain proper hygiene practices in food handling to ensure food safety and protect consumers from foodborne illnesses.

Although washing hands after touching hair or face is a good hygiene practice, it doesn't address the specific concern of handling raw food. In addition to washing hands after touching face or hair, food handlers should thoroughly wash their hands immediately after handling raw food, ensuring that they do not transfer bacteria to other foods or surfaces.

Washing hands at the end of a work shift, before taking a break, or all the time while working with food are important practices but do not highlight the specific requirement to wash hands immediately following the handling of raw food. Each of these moments is a good opportunity to wash hands, yet the priority should always be on washing them right after engaging with raw foods to mitigate any risk of contamination effectively.