Ace the 2026 Public Health Nursing Exam – Heal, Lead, and Succeed!

The correct answer, which focuses on the environment, highlights the critical role that environmental factors play in the transmission of foodborne illnesses. Teaching food handlers to wash utensils after contact with raw meat is an intervention designed to reduce the risk of contamination within the food preparation environment. This action emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clean environment to prevent the spread of pathogens that can cause illness.

By ensuring that surfaces and utensils are sanitized after coming into contact with potentially hazardous foods, the incidence of cross-contamination can be significantly reduced. This preventative measure not only protects the food being prepared but also contributes to overall public health by promoting safe food handling practices in the community.

In contrast, the other options such as agent, host, and food handler focus on different aspects of disease transmission. The agent refers to the pathogens responsible for illness, the host concerns the individual who may contract the disease, and the food handler encompasses the individuals involved in food preparation. However, in this context, the primary focus is on modifying the environment to create safer food safety practices.