Which of the following is an acceptable practice for handling raw food?

Wearing gloves when handling food can be an important practice, especially if you have an open wound. Wearing gloves helps to create a barrier that prevents pathogens from coming into contact with food, thus reducing the risk of contamination and foodborne illness. Proper hand hygiene is critical in food safety, and wearing gloves is a supportive measure that can complement handwashing.

When managing food safety, it is vital to ensure that contaminated surfaces or pathogens do not transfer to ready-to-eat foods. The option related to the improper handling of raw foods positioning them above ready-to-eat items presents a significant food safety risk, as it could lead to cross-contamination. Similarly, using thermometers interchangeably without proper cleaning can amplify the risk of spreading bacteria from one type of meat to another, which is unsafe. Lastly, not washing hands before preparing food contravenes fundamental food safety principles and increases the chance of transferring harmful bacteria to food products. Therefore, wearing gloves while having an open wound serves as an essential preventive measure in food handling practices.