What should be done with a pan of peaches after a worker inadvertently touched the tray with the scoop?

When a worker inadvertently touches the tray with the scoop, this action can contaminate the food, even if the scoop is typically clean. The risk arises because hands can carry pathogens that may not be visible but can lead to foodborne illnesses if ingested. The proper food safety protocol in such a situation is to discard the peaches. By doing this, the risk of cross-contamination is eliminated, ensuring that customers are protected from potential health hazards.

Each of the other options poses a safety risk. Leaving the pan as is or refilling it without discarding could allow harmful bacteria to remain, which could compromise food safety. Covering the pan and storing it for later does not address the issue of potential contamination and, therefore, is not a safe practice. Ensuring food safety requires immediate action in response to any potential contamination, thereby emphasizing the importance of discarding the affected food item.