When must you wash your hands?

Washing hands is a fundamental practice in food safety to prevent foodborne illness and ensure hygiene in food handling environments. The requirement to wash hands before starting to work with food is crucial as it helps to eliminate any bacteria or contaminants that may be present on your hands, thereby protecting the food from being contaminated.

Washing hands after using the restroom is essential as well, since this is a high-risk area for contamination. Pathogens can easily transfer from hands to food or food contact surfaces if proper hygiene is not maintained after restroom use.

Additionally, washing hands after taking out the garbage is necessary because handling waste can introduce harmful bacteria and contaminants. This action further emphasizes the need for cleanliness during food preparation and handling.

The comprehensive approach represented by the answer acknowledges that all these situations are critical times for handwashing, reinforcing the practice as a key component of preventing cross-contamination and ensuring food safety in all aspects of food handling.