What must be done to food that has been exposed to rodents?

In situations where food has been exposed to rodents, the most appropriate action is to dispose of the food safely. However, in the context of cleanliness, if food is considered safe for consumption after thorough cleaning, this may apply to fruits and vegetables that can be rinsed properly. But in the case of direct contamination by rodents, it is crucial to underscore that food should be considered unsafe due to potential contamination with bacteria, viruses, or parasites that rodents can transfer.

Regarding the choice of thoroughly cleaning food, while cleaning is an important practice in food safety, it doesn't address the inherent risks posed by rodent exposure. The presence of rodents may suggest an environment that is not sanitary, potentially compromising the food's safety. Therefore, although thorough cleaning is necessary in many food safety practices, it may not suffice to ensure safety in this particular scenario. The correct approach typically involves discarding any food that has come into contact with rodents to prevent health risks.