A chicken dish containing peanuts has been spilled over a work surface. What should a food handler do first?

The correct action is to clean the spill immediately and sanitize the area. This is crucial because chicken is a potential source of harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, which can cause foodborne illness. By promptly cleaning the spill, the food handler minimizes the risk of cross-contamination and prevents any harmful pathogens from spreading to other surfaces or food items.

Sanitizing the area after cleaning also ensures that any remaining bacteria are effectively neutralized, promoting a safe food preparation environment. This practice aligns with food safety protocols, which emphasize the importance of maintaining cleanliness in food handling areas to protect public health.

The other options do not adequately address the safety risk posed by the spilled chicken. Simply wiping the area with a dry cloth might not fully eliminate the contaminants present. Delaying the cleaning until a scheduled time ignores the immediate threat of foodborne pathogens in the food preparation area, and putting the spilled chicken back into the dish could lead to further contamination, putting consumers at risk.