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Good personal hygiene

Personal hygiene

Overview

It is very easy for your hands, clothing, nails, hair and jewellery to contaminate food or a food preparation surface.
Good personal hygiene means making sure you are clean, wearing clean clothing and washing your hands thoroughly and often.

You can contaminate food with bacteria.

Working with food means that you are responsible for practicing good personal hygiene.

To prevent food contamination:

Do:

  • wash and dry your hands thoroughly
  • keep your nails short and clean
  • keep your hair clean, tied back or covered at all times
  • have a clean body and clean clothing at all times
  • wear protective clothing to protect food from contamination
  • keep personal belongings and clothing in a locker or changing room
  • take your apron off before going to the toilet or outside the food preparation area
  • cover all cuts and wounds with a waterproof, brightly coloured bandage and a glove. The bright colour makes it easier to find if it drops in the food and the glove will stop it falling into the food.

Don’t:

  • touch ready-to-eat foods with your bare hands – use tongs or gloves
  • wear artificial nails as they can fall off into the food
  • smoke near or around food or preparation areas
  • wear nail polish, as it can chip off into food. You also won’t be able to see if your nails are clean 
  • touch or comb your hair when preparing food
  • wear rings, earrings or body piercings with stones, as they can fall into food
  • touch your face or piercings while preparing or serving food
  • go to work if you are unwell, especially if you have diarrhoea, vomiting, or fever
  • blow on food, cough, sneeze, or spit over food or food preparation surfaces
  • eat or drink over unprotected food or food preparation surfaces
  • store personal belongings and clothing in food preparation or food storage areas.

Answer this practice question...

What is one way to prevent contamination of food and surfaces?

Incorrect! Why is this?

Correct! Why is this?

You have the right to reject the delivery if you find the food unsafe

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