Handwashing is one of the most important food safety practices. It is estimated that washing your hands with soap and water could reduce deaths from diarrheal disease by up to 50%.
In the foodservice industry, handwashing is especially important. According to the CDC, 89% of foodborne illness outbreaks attributed to food handlers are caused by harmful germs on their hands.
There are many reasons why handwashing is so important. Hands can come into contact with many different things throughout the day, including raw meat, poultry, and seafood; uncooked eggs; soil; and other people’s bodily fluids. These things can all be contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
When you wash your hands with soap and water, you remove these harmful germs. This helps to prevent the spread of foodborne illness.
How to Wash Your Hands Properly
To wash your hands properly, follow these steps:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water.
- Apply soap and lather well.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Rinse your hands thoroughly under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands with a clean towel or air dry them.
Handwashing Tips
- Wash your hands often, especially:
- Before, during, and after handling food.
- After using the bathroom.
- After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the bathroom.
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- After touching an animal or animal waste.
- Use soap and water whenever possible. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. This may seem like a long time, but it is important to give your hands enough time to get clean.
- Dry your hands thoroughly. Wet hands can harbor germs.
- Teach your children how to wash their hands properly.
Conclusion
Handwashing is one of the most important things you can do to prevent foodborne illness. By following these simple steps, you can help to keep yourself and your family safe.
Here are some additional resources that you can use to learn more about handwashing:
- Food Safety and Inspection Service: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/
- National Restaurant Association: https://www.restaurant.org/
I hope this blog post has helped you to learn more about handwashing and how to do it properly.