Never wipe or dry ________ on your pants or apron.

The correct answer is that you should never wipe or dry hands on your pants or apron. This practice is essential for maintaining proper hygiene in food handling environments. When hands are wiped on clothing, bacteria and other contaminants from the hands can be transferred to the fabric, which may lead to cross-contamination of food and surfaces.

In food service, maintaining clean hands is critical because hands can easily carry pathogens that can lead to foodborne illnesses. Instead, food handlers should use paper towels or designated hand-drying equipment to ensure their hands are clean and sanitized after washing.

Alternative options such as plates, utensils, and food are less directly related to hand hygiene. While all items used in food preparation should be kept clean, the practice of drying hands on pants or an apron directly undermines personal cleanliness and safety in food handling, making it particularly harmful to food safety practices.