State Food Safety Practice Exam

The correct action for the food worker as she loads the dishwasher is to scrape or rinse large food particles off the plates. This step is crucial because it prepares the plates for effective cleaning during the dishwashing cycle. By removing larger food residues, the dishwasher can operate more efficiently, ensuring that hot water and detergent can effectively reach and sanitize all surfaces of the plates. This not only enhances the cleaning process but also helps prevent the buildup of food waste, which can create clogs or reduce the machine's efficiency.

In contrast, placing the plates face-down on the trays may not allow for optimal washing and drying, as water needs to reach all surfaces of the plates. Fitting as many plates on the trays as possible can lead to overcrowding, which inhibits proper water flow and cleaning efficiency. Cleaning and sanitizing the plates before loading them is unnecessary because the dishwasher is designed to perform those tasks during the wash cycle, and pre-cleaning can waste time and resources that could otherwise be used in the machine's proper functioning.