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

Cross-contamination is the transfer of harmful bacteria, allergens, or other contaminants from one food, surface, or object to another. It is one of the leading causes of food-borne illness.

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

Direct cross-contamination occurs when raw food or its juices come into direct contact with ready-to-eat food. Raw chicken dripping onto salad transfers Salmonella directly to the ready-to-eat food.

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

Raw meat must be stored on the bottom shelf to prevent juices from dripping onto ready-to-eat foods below. Ready-to-eat foods should always be stored above raw products.

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

From top to bottom: ready-to-eat foods, then seafood and whole cuts of meat, then ground meats, and raw poultry on the bottom. This order is based on required cooking temperatures, with the highest risk at the bottom.

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

This is indirect cross-contamination — bacteria from the raw chicken transferred to the cutting board, and then to the tomatoes. The cutting board served as the vehicle for contamination.

Ontario Food Handler Practice Test

Ontario Food Handler Practice Test

Ontario Food Handler Certificate Cross-Contamination Prevention