What does personal hygiene encompass?

Personal hygiene encompasses an individual's state of health and hygienic practices because it involves the habits and behaviors that contribute to maintaining cleanliness and preventing illness. This includes proper handwashing, oral hygiene, and overall bodily cleanliness which play a critical role in food safety practices, especially in food handling and preparation environments.

In a food service context, personal hygiene is crucial for preventing foodborne illnesses and ensuring that food is handled safely. It is not merely about the condition of clothing or the workplace cleanliness, which are also important but are not the complete scope of personal hygiene. Instead, it focuses on the health and hygienic practices of individuals who handle food, as their personal cleanliness directly affects the safety of the food being prepared and served.