Certified Professional Food Safety (CP-FS) Practice Exam

What type of towels is preferred for hand drying in food service?

1. Recyclable fabric towels

2. Common cloth towels

3. Individual disposable towels

4. Microfiber towels

The correct answer is: Individual disposable towels

In food service, individual disposable towels are preferred for hand drying due to their hygiene benefits. These towels help prevent cross-contamination, as they are used once and then discarded, minimizing the risk of bacterial transfer that can occur with reusable towels. In busy kitchen environments, disposable towels ensure that clean and uncontaminated products are readily available for each hand drying instance. Using disposable towels also aligns with health and safety regulations that emphasize the importance of proper hand hygiene. Since food service establishments must adhere to diverse health codes, having a system in place that promotes disposability will reduce the spread of pathogens, contributing to safer food handling practices. While other types of towels, such as recyclable fabric towels or microfiber towels, may have their benefits and can be effective in other contexts, they do not provide the same level of contamination control as individually disposable towels do. Cloth towels, in particular, can harbor bacteria if not washed properly and often lead to the risk of cross-contamination among workers.