Which one of the following situations would most likely promote bacterial contamination?

• A. Storing food in a sealed container in the refrigerator
• B. Leaving cooked food at room temperature for several hours
• C. Cooking food thoroughly to an internal temperature of 75^ext{o}C
• D. Washing hands before handling food

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the conditions that promote bacterial growth: bacteria thrive in environments with suitable temperature, moisture, nutrients, and time to multiply.
2. Analyze each option by considering how it affects bacterial growth: for example, storing food in a sealed container in the refrigerator lowers temperature and limits bacterial growth.
3. Recognize that leaving cooked food at room temperature for several hours provides an ideal environment (warm temperature and time) for bacteria to multiply rapidly.
4. Note that cooking food thoroughly to an internal temperature of 75\^\{\\text{o}\}C kills most bacteria, reducing contamination risk.
5. Washing hands before handling food reduces the transfer of bacteria, thus preventing contamination rather than promoting it.