If a utensil used for raw poultry touches ready-to-eat foods, what must you do before the next use?

• A. Wash, rinse, and sanitize the utensil before using it again.
• B. Reuse it without cleaning.
• C. Wipe it with a dry towel.
• D. Place it in the same sink without cleaning.

Answer: (A)

Cross-contamination between raw poultry and ready-to-eat foods is the key danger. If a utensil that touched raw poultry is used again on ready-to-eat items, any bacteria on that surface can transfer. The only way to make the utensil safe for its next use is to thoroughly wash, rinse, and sanitize it. Washing removes soils and some bacteria, rinsing clears soap and debris, and sanitizing kills remaining pathogens to safe levels, breaking the contamination chain.

Reusing without cleaning would leave bacteria on the utensil. Wiping with a dry towel doesn’t reliably remove or kill bacteria. Placing the utensil in the same sink without cleaning can spread contamination to other items and surfaces.