Which statement about sanitizing food contact surfaces is true?

Sanitizing food contact surfaces is a crucial step in maintaining food safety and preventing foodborne illness. The statement that sanitizing should be done after cleaning holds true because cleaning is designed to remove dirt, food particles, and organic matter from surfaces, while sanitizing reduces the number of pathogenic microorganisms to levels considered safe. If a surface is not properly cleaned beforehand, the effectiveness of the sanitizing agent can be significantly diminished. This is critical in foodservice environments, where any residual contaminants can lead to cross-contamination and pose health risks to consumers.

The other statements do not accurately reflect best practices in sanitation. For instance, the idea that sanitizing is the first step would incorrectly suggest that surfaces can be sanitized effectively without prior cleaning. Additionally, while sanitizing is essential for food safety, it is not legally mandated for all surfaces in a food establishment; rather, it is specifically required for surfaces that come into contact with food. Lastly, while it is true that sanitizing surfaces that are dirty is ineffective, this belief is embedded in the requirement to clean first. Thus, the correct understanding of the sanitization process emphasizes the importance of cleaning as a precursor to effective sanitization.