What condition must cleaned food contact surfaces meet before food preparation?

Before food preparation, cleaned food contact surfaces must be sanitized to ensure they are free from harmful pathogens that could contaminate food. Sanitization is a critical step in food safety, as it reduces the number of microorganisms on the surface to a safe level, helping to prevent foodborne illnesses. By using appropriate sanitizing agents or methods, surfaces can effectively eliminate bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants that may remain even after washing.

While washing with soap and water is essential for removing dirt and debris, it does not kill the remaining bacteria. Air-drying may be a part of the cleaning process, but it does not ensure that the surface is sanitized. Covering surfaces with plastic can help protect them from contamination but it does not address the need for sanitization. Therefore, sanitization is the key condition that must be met to ensure food contact surfaces are safe for food preparation.