Before which task MUST a food handler wash their hands?

A food handler must wash their hands before handling raw chicken because it is essential to prevent cross-contamination. Raw chicken can carry harmful pathogens such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, which can cause severe foodborne illnesses. By washing their hands thoroughly before touching raw chicken, the handler minimizes the risk of spreading these pathogens to other foods, surfaces, or their own body, ensuring safer food handling practices.

In contrast, while sanitizing a food contact surface, cleaning a trash can, or handling money also require good hygiene practices, the specific threat of disease transmission from raw chicken heightens the necessity of handwashing in that context. Therefore, ensuring hands are clean before engaging with raw poultry is a vital step in maintaining food safety.