Hands must be washed thoroughly after which of the following?

Washing hands thoroughly is a critical practice in food safety, as it helps prevent the spread of bacteria and foodborne illnesses. After handling raw food, such as meat or seafood, it's essential to wash hands to eliminate any harmful pathogens that may be present. This step is crucial in preventing cross-contamination when preparing other foods.

Using the restroom is another situation that necessitates thorough hand washing. The restroom can harbor numerous germs and bacteria, and proper hand hygiene after using the facility significantly reduces the risk of those microorganisms contaminating food.

Finally, after eating or drinking, washing hands is also important, as food particles and bacteria can linger on hands, potentially affecting the cleanliness of food during preparation or serving.

Given these circumstances, thorough hand washing is required after each of these activities to ensure the safety and hygiene standards are upheld in food handling practices. Therefore, recognizing that all listed activities contribute to the need for hand washing reinforces the notion that maintaining good hygiene is essential in the food industry.