What are the main responsibilities of food handlers in a workplace?

Food handlers play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and health of the food served in any establishment. The primary responsibilities revolve around following food safety protocols, which include proper handling, cooking, and storage of food to prevent contamination. This is critical in maintaining hygiene standards and reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Preventing contamination involves understanding how to avoid cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods, maintaining clean workspaces, and using safe food handling techniques. Moreover, food handlers must be vigilant in reporting any illnesses, whether their own or those of coworkers, to ensure that appropriate measures can be taken to protect public health.

While other responsibilities, such as recipe creation, inventory management, and staff training, are important in a food service establishment, they are not the primary focus of food handlers. Their main duty is to ensure that the food served is safe and free from harmful pathogens, making adherence to food safety protocols paramount in their role.