An example of a bad food hygiene practice that could lead to cross- contamination is chopping raw and cooked meat on the same chopping board without properly washing and sanitizing it between uses. This practice allows harmful bacteria from raw meat to transfer to cooked meat or other ready-to- eat foods, which can cause food poisoning.
Other similar bad hygiene practices include:
- Using the same knife or cutting board for raw and ready-to-eat foods without cleaning.
- Allowing raw meat juices to drip onto ready-to-eat foods in the refrigerator.
- Improper handwashing or touching raw meats and then ready-to-eat foods without washing hands.
- Using unclean equipment or towels that spread bacteria from one food to another.
Thus, not separating raw and cooked foods during preparation and not cleaning utensils and surfaces thoroughly between uses are common examples of bad food hygiene leading to cross-contamination.
