In the context of microbiology and food safety, what is the most appropriate action a food handler should take upon noticing food bits on a cutting surface?

• A. Clean and sanitize the cutting surface before further use.
• B. Ignore the food bits if they are from the same type of food.
• C. Rinse the surface with water only and resume food preparation.
• D. Brush the food bits onto the floor and continue using the surface.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the importance of preventing cross-contamination in food safety, which involves removing any food residues that could harbor bacteria or other pathogens.
2. Recognize that simply ignoring food bits or rinsing with water alone is insufficient because it does not effectively remove or kill microorganisms that may be present.
3. Know that brushing food bits onto the floor is unsafe and can spread contamination to other areas.
4. Identify that the best practice is to clean the cutting surface thoroughly to remove visible debris, followed by sanitizing to kill any remaining microorganisms.
5. Apply the principle that cleaning and sanitizing the cutting surface before further use ensures a safe environment for food preparation and reduces the risk of foodborne illness.