What is the proper way to handle raw meat?

• A. Wash hands before touching raw meat
• B. Touch raw meat, then wash hands before touching other surfaces
• C. Wash hands only after touching other foods
• D. Keep raw meat away from hands without washing

Answer: (B)

To prevent cross-contamination, wash hands after you touch raw meat and before you touch any other surfaces or foods. Raw meat can harbor bacteria such as Salmonella or E. coli, and those germs can transfer to hands, utensils, countertops, and ready-to-eat foods very quickly. If you wash your hands only before handling raw meat, or only after touching other foods, you leave room for bacteria to spread during the handling process. Washing after touching raw meat, and before touching anything else, interrupts that spread by removing the bacteria from your hands before they can contaminate other surfaces. Use soap and warm water and scrub for at least 20 seconds, then dry with a clean towel before moving on to other tasks. Keeping raw meat away from hands without washing doesn’t remove the contamination, and waiting to wash until after touching other foods allows germs to spread.