State Food Safety Practice Exam

What action should a manager take to minimize the risk of deliberate contamination of food by employees?

1. Explain how to label working containers

2. Ask employees to report anything suspicious

3. Check employees' pockets before their shift begins

4. Assign employees with a cough or runny nose to cleaning tasks

The correct answer is: Ask employees to report anything suspicious

Asking employees to report anything suspicious is a proactive measure that fosters a culture of vigilance and awareness within the workplace. This approach encourages employees to be attentive to unusual behavior, such as unauthorized personnel in food preparation areas or employees engaging in questionable activities that may pose a risk of food contamination. By creating an environment where staff feel encouraged and obligated to speak up about potential threats, management can enhance food safety protocols and deter potential acts of deliberate contamination. It empowers employees to be part of the solution, thus increasing overall safety within the food establishment. The other options don't address the active engagement and awareness necessary for preventing contamination in the same direct way. For instance, explaining how to label working containers focuses on organizational practices rather than combating intentional wrongdoing, while checking employees' pockets before shifts could create a negative work atmosphere and might not be effective in actually identifying threats. Assigning sick employees to cleaning tasks may not mitigate contamination risks, as their condition could still compromise food safety in other ways.