What strategy can prevent cross-contamination?

The strategy that effectively prevents cross-contamination is using separate utensils for different foods. This practice minimizes the risk of transferring harmful bacteria from one food item to another, especially between raw and cooked foods or different types of raw foods (like meats and vegetables). When separate utensils are used, such as cutting boards, knives, and serving spoons, you create a physical barrier that helps ensure that pathogens do not contaminate other food surfaces.

While cooking food thoroughly and buying food that does not require prepping are important aspects of food safety, they do not directly address cross-contamination during preparation or handling. Storing food together in the refrigerator is not a safe practice, as it can lead to spills and drips, causing cross-contamination between different items. Using separate utensils remains one of the most proactive measures in preventing cross-contamination in food safety.