What practice should be avoided when preparing ready-to-eat foods?

Using bare hands when preparing ready-to-eat foods poses a significant risk to food safety. This practice can easily lead to the contamination of food with harmful pathogens that are present on the skin. Ready-to-eat foods are those that do not require any further cooking to be consumed, which means that any contaminants introduced at this stage can directly lead to foodborne illnesses.

Wearing gloves and using disposable utensils are practices designed to minimize direct contact with food, thereby reducing the risk of contamination. Keeping food covered also plays a critical role in preventing exposure to airborne contaminants and maintaining food hygiene. Therefore, using bare hands during the preparation of ready-to-eat foods is not only unsafe but also goes against established food safety protocols aimed at protecting public health.