Personal Hygiene and Health Flashcards
7 cards from real SERVSAFE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Personal Hygiene and Health flashcards as text
A food handler who recently recovered from Salmonella Typhi (typhoid fever) wants to return to work. What must happen first?
Answer: They must receive written medical clearance before returning
Salmonella Typhi is a Big 6 pathogen requiring written medical clearance before a food handler may return to work.
Which behavior puts food at the greatest risk of contamination from a food handler?
Answer: Touching your face and then handling food without washing hands
Touching the face introduces pathogens from mucous membranes to hands, and then to food if hands are not washed immediately after.
A food handler reports that they have been vomiting at home but feel better now. The manager should:
Answer: Exclude them from the operation until they meet return-to-work criteria
Vomiting is a symptom associated with several Big 6 pathogens and requires exclusion until return-to-work criteria are met, even after symptoms resolve.
When must a food handler change gloves?
Answer: When switching between handling raw and ready-to-eat foods
Gloves must be changed when switching tasks — especially between handling raw proteins and ready-to-eat foods — to prevent cross-contamination.
Which of the following is the best example of proper personal hygiene for food handlers regarding fingernails?
Answer: Short, clean, unpolished nails or no nail polish
Nails should be short, clean, and free of nail polish to prevent harboring bacteria and having polish chip into food.
A food handler is assigned to work in the establishment but is restricted from handling food. Which situation most likely caused this restriction?
Answer: The handler has a sore throat without fever
A sore throat without fever warrants restriction from working with highly susceptible populations but not full exclusion from the operation.
Why should food handlers avoid wearing jewelry such as rings and bracelets while working?
Answer: Jewelry can harbor bacteria and fall into food
Jewelry can trap bacteria in crevices and may fall into food, posing both a biological and physical contamination hazard.