What should you do after handling raw poultry?

After handling raw poultry, washing hands with soap and water is crucial to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, which are commonly associated with poultry. These pathogens can remain on your hands and contaminate other surfaces, utensils, and food items if not properly removed. Thus, practicing proper hand hygiene is a key step in food safety to minimize the risk of foodborne illness.

Using the same cutting board for vegetables without proper cleaning could transfer harmful bacteria from the poultry to the vegetables, posing a health risk. Cooking the poultry immediately does not negate the need for handwashing, as contamination can still occur during preparation. Storing raw poultry in the refrigerator for later use is acceptable, but again, it does not address the immediate requirement to wash hands after handling raw meat. Therefore, handwashing is the required action to ensure food safety after handling raw poultry.