What are safe food handling practices meant to achieve?

Safe food handling practices are designed primarily to minimize the risk of food contamination. This objective is crucial in preventing foodborne illnesses that can result from improperly handled food. These practices include measures such as maintaining proper temperatures, ensuring cleanliness during food preparation, and using safe cooking techniques. By prioritizing safety, these practices help protect consumers and promote public health.

In contrast, increasing food waste is counterproductive and not a goal of safe food handling. While making food preparation easier and promoting fast service can be beneficial outcomes in certain contexts, they are not the primary focus of safe food handling practices, which is primarily centered on safety and food integrity.