A separate chopping board should be used for which types of food?

• A. Raw meats
• B. Ready-to-eat foods
• C. Raw meats and ready-to-eat foods
• D. Fruits

Answer: (C)

Cross-contamination prevention is the key idea here. Raw meats can carry bacteria in their juices, and those bacteria can transfer to surfaces, knives, and other foods. If a board used for raw meat is then used for foods that will not be cooked before eating, the bacteria can reach those ready-to-eat items and cause illness. That’s why it’s recommended to have a separate chopping board for raw meats and another for ready-to-eat foods: it prevents this transfer altogether. In practice, treating ready-to-eat foods on their own board (often alongside other ready-to-eat items like fruits and salads) and using a distinct board for raw meats creates a clear barrier between ingredients that will be cooked (where some pathogens can be killed) and those that won’t be cooked before consumption.