When must you wash your hands?

Washing hands is a critical practice in food safety to prevent the spread of pathogens and ensure that food remains safe for consumption. Each of the situations mentioned in the question necessitates hand washing to eliminate any potential contaminants.

After using the restroom is one of the most crucial times to wash hands, as this is when harmful bacteria are most likely to transfer to surfaces or food from the hands. Proper hand hygiene in this context is vital in preventing foodborne illnesses.

Handling food or eating also requires hand washing, as food particles and bacteria can remain on the hands, which could contaminate other surfaces or food items. Moreover, touching personal items, like a cell phone, can introduce new contaminants to your hands. Since cell phones touch many surfaces throughout the day, they can harbor bacteria.

Therefore, washing your hands after touching your cell phone, after using the restroom, and after eating are all essential practices. Recognizing that all these actions require hand washing highlights the importance of maintaining good hygiene in various contexts to ensure food safety.