What is the most common vehicle(s) of contamination?

The correct answer identifies wiping cloths, cutting boards, and hands as the most common vehicles of contamination in food safety. Each of these items can facilitate the transfer of harmful bacteria or pathogens to food, leading to foodborne illnesses.

Wiping cloths are often used to clean surfaces and can easily harbor and spread bacteria if they are not properly sanitized or if they are used for multiple purposes, such as wiping down surfaces and then touching food items. Cutting boards play a crucial role in food preparation, and if they are not adequately cleaned and sanitized between different types of food—especially raw meats and vegetables—they can become a source of cross-contamination. Hands are vital to food safety because they come into direct contact with food. Without proper handwashing, germs from hands can be transferred to food, making it unsafe for consumption.

In contrast, the other options, while they can contribute to contamination, are less frequently identified as primary vehicles in food safety contexts. Clothes and shoes may carry contaminants, but they are generally not in direct contact with food. Hair and makeup can pose a risk primarily in food service environments but are not as significant as the direct contact items listed in the correct answer. Jewelry can harbor bacteria, but it is often less commonly associated with widespread