Is hand sanitizer an acceptable substitute for handwashing?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only when hands are visibly dirty
• D. Always

Answer: (B)

Hand hygiene in food service relies on washing with soap and running water, not on using hand sanitizer alone. Washing physically removes dirt and microbes from hands and helps prevent contamination, especially in a kitchen where you handle food. Alcohol-based sanitizers can reduce many germs but don’t kill all pathogens and don’t remove dirt or grease, so they’re not reliable when hands are visibly dirty or greasy or after contact with raw foods. Because of these limits, hand sanitizer should only supplement handwashing when soap and water aren’t available, and never replace washing in situations where cleanliness is essential, such as before handling food, after restroom use, or after touching money or other contaminants.