Both employees and customers can use the same bathroom even if customers have to walk through food areas to gain access to it.

In food service establishments, maintaining hygiene and safety standards is crucial to preventing foodborne illnesses. Allowing both employees and customers to share the same bathroom, particularly if it requires customers to walk through food preparation or service areas, poses a significant risk of cross-contamination.

When customers access the restroom through food areas, there is the potential for them to carry bacteria or other pathogens into zones where food is being prepared or served. This can compromise food safety and violate health regulations. For these reasons, having separate bathrooms for employees and customers is generally mandated to protect food from contamination and ensure a safe environment for both workers and patrons.

Therefore, indicating that employees and customers can share the same bathroom when it's necessary for customers to traverse food preparation areas is not consistent with the best practices or health codes that govern food establishments.