Ontario Food Handler Certificate Cross-Contamination Prevention

Question 1

What is cross-contamination in a food service environment?

Accepted Answer

The transfer of harmful substances or microorganisms from one food or surface to another

Answer

Cooking food at the wrong temperature

Answer

Serving expired food to customers

Answer

Using too much seasoning in food preparation

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of direct cross-contamination?

Accepted Answer

Raw chicken juices dripping onto ready-to-eat salad in the refrigerator

Answer

A food handler sneezing on food

Answer

Using expired ingredients

Answer

Cooking food on a dirty grill

Question 3

Where should raw meat be stored in a refrigerator relative to ready-to-eat foods?

Accepted Answer

On the bottom shelf below ready-to-eat foods

Answer

On the top shelf above ready-to-eat foods

Answer

On the same shelf if in sealed containers

Answer

In a separate refrigerator only

Question 4

What is the proper order for storing foods in a refrigerator from top to bottom?

Accepted Answer

Ready-to-eat foods, seafood/whole cuts of meat, ground meats, raw poultry

Answer

Raw poultry, raw ground meat, raw whole meat, ready-to-eat foods

Answer

Raw poultry, ready-to-eat foods, ground meats, seafood

Answer

Any order is acceptable if foods are covered

Question 5

A food handler uses the same cutting board to cut raw chicken and then slice tomatoes for a sandwich. What type of contamination has occurred?

Accepted Answer

Indirect cross-contamination through a shared surface

Answer

Chemical contamination

Answer

Physical contamination

Answer

No contamination has occurred

Question 6

Which of the following is the BEST practice for preventing cross-contamination with cutting boards?

Accepted Answer

Use separate color-coded cutting boards for raw meats, vegetables, and ready-to-eat foods

Answer

Use one cutting board for everything and wash it between uses

Answer

Only use wooden cutting boards as they are naturally antibacterial

Answer

Flip the cutting board over between different foods