California eFoodHandlers Practice Exam 2026 - Free eFoodHandlers Practice Questions and Study Guide

Keeping raw food separate from cooked food is essential for preventing cross-contamination, which can lead to foodborne illness. Raw foods, especially items like meat, poultry, and seafood, may carry harmful bacteria that can transfer to cooked foods if they come into contact with each other. By maintaining a physical separation, you reduce the risk of these pathogens spreading, ensuring that all food served is safe for consumption.

This practice is a crucial component of food safety guidelines and helps to maintain hygiene in food preparation areas. It is important to store raw foods at the bottom of the refrigerator to prevent juices from dripping onto other foods, particularly those that are ready to eat.

The other methods mentioned do not promote safe food handling practices, as leaving raw food at room temperature increases the risk of bacterial growth, mixing raw with cooked food can introduce harmful bacteria, and storing raw food above cooked food can result in contamination.