When should gloves be used in food preparation?

Using gloves in food preparation is essential for preventing cross-contamination and ensuring food safety. In the context of handling ready-to-eat foods, gloves create a barrier between the food and any potential contaminants from the hands. This is particularly crucial because ready-to-eat foods are not cooked further, meaning any pathogens present could directly cause foodborne illnesses if they transfer from hands to food.

While gloves should indeed be used when handling raw meats to prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked products, the primary scenario that aligns perfectly with the question's focus on food handling is when dealing with ready-to-eat foods. This practice emphasizes the priority of keeping those foods safe for consumption, as they are served without further cooking. Therefore, proper glove use in this scenario is critical in maintaining food safety standards.

The other choices, such as washing hands or cleaning surfaces, involve procedures where gloves are not necessary or appropriate. Gloves do not replace the need for handwashing, and cleaning surfaces is typically done with appropriate sanitizing methods rather than through personal protective equipment like gloves.