No Bare Hand Contact with Ready-to-Eat Foods

Hand washing is critical for food safety, but alone it is not enough to prevent foodborne illnesses. 

The main reason for not touching ready-to-eat foods with bare hands is to prevent viruses and bacteria, which are present in your body, from contaminating the food. Viruses and bacteria are not visible to the naked eye but may be present on your hands if you do not wash them thoroughly, particularly after using the bathroom. The State of Iowa prohibits bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods and requires good hand washing by food service workers.

You can minimize contamination potentially being passed to your customers by washing your hands, being very careful not to cross-contaminate food, not contacting ready-to-eat foods with bare hands, and by maintaining a high level of personal hygiene. 

Want to know more, including what kinds of foods are considered ready-to-eat and how you can prepare or serve ready-to-eat food while avoiding contact with bare hands? Click to read additional information from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.