Which practice helps prevent cross-contamination when making dairy- or nut-containing drinks?

• A. Use separate equipment and surfaces; label and sanitize between batches; keep dairy and nut ingredients in separate areas.
• B. Use the same equipment for all ingredients and sanitize only at the end.
• C. Store dairy and nuts together in a sealed container.
• D. Wash hands but reuse the same tools between batches.

Answer: (A)

Preventing cross-contamination is the key idea here, especially when dairy or nut ingredients are involved. Allergens can linger on equipment, surfaces, and utensils and even tiny traces can trigger a reaction. The best practice is to use separate equipment and surfaces for allergen-containing ingredients, label each batch clearly, sanitize between batches, and keep dairy and nut ingredients in separate areas. This combination minimizes the chance that residues from one batch end up in another and helps prevent accidental exposure.

If you reuse the same equipment for all ingredients and only sanitize at the end, residues from one batch can carry over into the next, creating a real risk for someone with an allergy. Storing dairy and nuts together in a sealed container makes cross-contact more likely during storage and handling. Washing hands without changing tools between batches also leaves residues on the tools themselves, which can transfer to subsequent drinks.