SERVSAFE MANAGER COURSEBOOK Personal Hygiene 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How long should a food handler scrub their hands during proper handwashing?
- 10–15 seconds (Correct answer)
- 3–5 seconds
- 30–45 seconds
- 1–2 minutes
Correct answer: 10–15 seconds
ServSafe requires food handlers to vigorously scrub their hands for at least 10–15 seconds as part of the handwashing process.
Question 2: When must a food handler wash their hands?
- After handling raw meat and before handling ready-to-eat food (Correct answer)
- Only at the beginning of each shift
- After every hour of food preparation
- Only when hands appear visibly dirty
Correct answer: After handling raw meat and before handling ready-to-eat food
Handwashing must occur after handling raw meat and before touching ready-to-eat food to prevent cross-contamination.
Question 3: Which illness symptom requires a food handler to be excluded from the operation entirely?
- Jaundice (Correct answer)
- Mild headache
- Runny nose
- Minor skin rash on the arm
Correct answer: Jaundice
Jaundice is a symptom of a serious reportable illness such as Hepatitis A and requires the employee to be excluded from the food operation.
Question 4: What should a food handler do if they have a wound on their hand?
- Cover it with a bandage and a single-use glove (Correct answer)
- Wash it and continue working without covering
- Take the day off from food handling duties
- Apply antibiotic cream and leave uncovered
Correct answer: Cover it with a bandage and a single-use glove
A wound must be covered with a bandage and a single-use glove to prevent contamination of food.
Question 5: Which of the following is a proper personal hygiene practice for food handlers?
- Wearing clean uniforms each day (Correct answer)
- Tasting food with the prep spoon
- Wearing a watch while prepping food
- Applying lotion in the kitchen before handling food
Correct answer: Wearing clean uniforms each day
Wearing a clean uniform daily prevents transferring pathogens from soiled clothing to food.
Question 6: Can hand sanitizers replace handwashing in a food service setting?
- No, they can only be used in addition to handwashing (Correct answer)
- Yes, they are equally effective
- Yes, if they contain at least 60% alcohol
- Only when hands are not visibly soiled
Correct answer: No, they can only be used in addition to handwashing
Hand sanitizers do not remove physical dirt or all pathogens and can never replace proper handwashing in food service.
SERVSAFE MANAGER COURSEBOOK Personal Hygiene 1
How long should a food handler scrub their hands during proper handwashing?