Personal Hygiene

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People are the most important key in preventing foodborne illness. Humans carry bacteria all the time. Because they handle food, care must be taken to prevent bacteria from entering the food.

Wash hands thoroughly and frequently.

Thoroughly means:

  • Use running water and lather with soap
  • Scrub under nails, between fingers, backs of hands, and up the wrists
  • Count to 20 or sing part of your favorite song, such as the “Happy Birthday” song
  • Rinse hands
  • Lather again
  • Give hands a final thorough rinse
  • Dry hands with paper towel
  • Turn water off with paper towel
  • Open bathroom door with paper towel

Frequently means:

  • Before starting work
  • During food preparation as needed
  • After using the restroom
  • After break time
  • After coughing, sneezing, blowing nose, or touching the nose
  • After chewing gum or using a toothpick or dental floss
  • After touching head, hair, open wounds, acne, or sores
  • After and between touching raw meat, poultry, or fish
  • After touching dirty dishes, equipment, or utensils
  • After washing dishes, equipment, or utensils
  • After taking out the trash
  • After mopping the floor
  • After using a chemical or cleaner
  • After smoking, eating, or drinking
  • After handling money
  • After touching soiled dish rags and towels
  • After changing diapers
  • After petting animals

Disposable plastic gloves give people a false sense of security. People often abuse gloves, cross contaminating food unintentionally. For example, wearing gloves to hand raw meat, then performing another task while still wearing the gloves causes cross contamination. You should change and destroy gloves as often as you would wash your hands.

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For more information, contact a University of Wyoming Nutrition and Food Safety Educator at nfs@uwyo.edu or Ask an Expert.

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Email: nfs@uwyo.edu

Extension Educator:
Vicki Hayman – (307) 746-3531

University of Wyoming Extension

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Issued in furtherance of extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Kelly Crane, Director, University of Wyoming Extension, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming Extension, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071.

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