Gloves serve as a barrier between the hands of food handlers and the food they handle, helping to prevent the spread of contaminants and pathogens, playing a crucial role in food safety. Proper glove use can prevent many foodborne illnesses, ensuring consumer safety and health.
However, if used improperly, gloves can harbor dangerous pathogens and spread various diseases. Therefore, understanding when food workers need to change gloves is essential to maintaining high standards of cleanliness and safety.
Hands must be washed before putting on a new pair of gloves. Failure to do so can lead to contamination of gloves with stains and bacteria from the hands. It is important to be careful when putting on gloves. Touch the cuff or opening of the gloves with the fingers to prevent contamination of the gloves.
What is the primary reason for washing hands and not handling ready-to-eat food with bare hands?
The primary reason for not handling ready-to-eat food with bare hands is to prevent contamination of the food with viruses and bacteria from the body. Viruses and bacteria are invisible to the naked eye, but if hands are not thoroughly washed, especially after using the restroom, they may harbor viruses and bacteria. It is a legal requirement to avoid bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat food and to ensure that food service workers wash their hands thoroughly.
When is handwashing necessary？
- Before starting work,
- Before putting on gloves,
- After handling raw, fresh, or frozen beef, poultry, fish, or meat;
- After mopping, sweeping, taking out the trash, or using the phone;
- After using the restroom,
- After smoking, eating, sneezing, or drinking water;
- After touching any items that may cause contamination of the hands.
For example, if you are cutting raw chicken but need to switch to cutting vegetables and forget to change your gloves, pathogens from the raw chicken could likely transfer to the vegetables.
To prevent this scenario, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly and put on a new pair of gloves. It’s that simple!
How to wash your hands properly?
You must thoroughly wash your hands and exposed parts of your arms with soap and water, rubbing the surfaces of your hands and arms with a soapy lather for at least 20 seconds, then rinsing thoroughly with clean water. Dry your hands with disposable towels or a hot air dryer. No need for special soap.
When gloves are damaged or soiled
Regularly check gloves for signs of damage such as tears, holes, abrasions, deformities, or other obvious changes. If any of these are observed, immediately stop wearing the gloves, wash your hands, and replace them to prevent the risk of contamination.
If gloves are found to have visible stains or contamination, they should also be replaced promptly, as failure to do so may lead to foodborne illness.
After wearing it for 4 hours continuously
Wearing gloves continuously for more than 4 hours can lead to the accumulation of bacteria and viruses, reaching a certain level of risk. The FDA recommends washing your hands and putting on new gloves after wearing gloves continuously for 4 hours.
After touching hair or face
Bacteria are present all over your body, and you may accidentally remove hair from your face or scratch an itch on your arm. Remember that anything you touch with gloves could potentially contaminate them.
If you end up touching your hair, face, or any other part of your body, remember to wash your hands and put on new gloves before continuing to prepare food.
Which foods should not be touched with hands?
- Fresh fruits and vegetables for raw consumption;
- Salads and salad ingredients;
- Cold dishes and sandwiches
- Bread, toast, rolls, and baked goods;
- Garnishes such as lettuce, cilantro, lemon slices, potato slices, or pickles on plates;
- Fruits or vegetables in mixed drinks;
- Ice cubes served to customers;
- Any food that has not been thoroughly cooked or heated after preparation.
Do gloves need to be changed after touching money?
No. Food investigations have not found handling money to be a cause of disease. However, it’s still advisable to change gloves and wash hands between handling money and preparing food.
Do short-order cooks need to wear gloves?
Short-order cooks are not allowed to handle ready-to-eat food with bare hands. There are two viable methods for handling: wearing gloves or using utensils such as forks, tongs, or spatulas.
Where can you find more information about handwashing and glove use?
Your local health department can answer your questions or provide more information about handwashing, glove use, and the importance of glove use in preventing diseases.
Furthermore, if you need more updates or other food safety tips, please feel free to contact us.
How to Measure Glove Sizes – Source: AIBON
Medical Gloves – Source: FDA
Nitrile Gloves or Latex – Source: AIBON
Medical Gloves Guidance Manual – Source: FDA