What personal hygiene practice is critical before food preparation?

Handwashing is critical before food preparation because it effectively removes dirt, bacteria, and viruses from your hands, which are essential steps in preventing foodborne illnesses. Proper handwashing involves using soap and warm water to scrub all parts of the hands for at least 20 seconds, ensuring that any harmful pathogens that may be present are eliminated. This practice is the foundation of food safety and is recommended by health authorities to maintain hygiene standards in food service.

While wearing clean gloves is important in preventing cross-contamination, it does not replace the need for handwashing. If gloves are put on without washing hands first, any contaminants on the hands can transfer to the gloves and food. Brushing teeth is a good personal hygiene practice but is not relevant to food safety in the context of food preparation. Relying solely on hand sanitizer does not effectively eliminate all pathogens, especially if hands are visibly dirty or greasy, making thorough handwashing the more reliable choice.