Safe food handling is a legal responsibility of all businesses. Everyone working in the food industry must understand their responsibilities. Wearing gloves isn’t required by food safety law, but many businesses use them to comply with food handling regulations.

In this guide we’ll outline which types of glove are safe to wear when handling and serving food.

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Food Handling Safety Laws

UK food safety laws place responsibility upon businesses to ensure the food they are selling is safe and not harmful to health.

Safe food handling, storage, and cooking procedures are a core part of this legal responsibility. Food hygiene law requires that all businesses develop and implement food safety measures based on HACCP principles.

Food business operators shall put in place, implement and maintain a permanent procedure or procedures based on the HACCP principles.

Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004

This includes assessing and reducing the risk of cross contamination, allergic reactions, and instances of food poisoning.

Food businesses should ensure they are have created adequate food handling and safety procedures within their premises. This may include wearing gloves when appropriate.

Food Handling Glove Regulations in the UK

While the law doesn’t state food handling gloves are a requirement, you do need to prevent food contamination. An effective way of achieving this is by having staff make proper use of gloves when they are preparing food.

Protective clothing is one of the most effective ways of maintaining high food standards in the workplace.

Gloves are highly effective as they:-

• Reduce the transmission of foodborne illnesses.
• Are more effective than hand washing.
• Provide a protective barrier between skin and food.
• Protect customers from bacteria and other contamination.
• Stop direct contact with food that is being served.
• They are useful when handling ready to eat foods.

It is also important to carry on practising good hygiene when it comes to hand washing. Wearing gloves should be regarded as an accompaniment to handwashing, not a replacement.

Hair nets and hats are also recommended to prevent foreign objects from falling into food products. At the very least, food workers should ensure long hair is kept tied up but, ideally, a hair net is more effective.

What Gloves Should be Worn When Serving Food?

When serving food, it is important to understand the different glove types and when they should be used.

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Some protective gloves are suited to cleaning tasks as they protect the skin against harsh chemicals. Others are appropriate for use to handle and prepare food. The materials available include; latex, nitrile, neoprene, and vinyl. With such a range of options, knowing what the different types offer helps you make the right choice for your employees.

When it comes to colour, the most popular choice is blue. They are easy to see, one of the more cost effective and perfectly safe in the food handling process.

Types of Gloves

The type of glove best used in food handling tasks depends on the food being handled and preparation methods being used.

We’ll look at the different glove types, and outline which ones are most suited to food handling.

This guide should help you choose the most appropriate glove type for your business. We look at the benefits of each material, the tasks they are best for and any drawbacks.

Nitrile Gloves

Nitrile gloves are commonly used as an alternative to latex. Anyone with sensitive skin or with allergies to latex should look for a replacement and nitrile is a good choice.

Nitrile is a type of rubber and these gloves are also free from powder which can be an irritant for many individuals.

These are used in the food industry due to how convenient they are to put on and also how reasonable they are cost wise. They comply with EN186 Food Safety Standards and typically come with textured fingers.

Advantages of Nitrile Gloves:-

• Hypoallergenic.
• Certified for HACCP.
• Robust and not likely to rip during food tasks.

Disadvantages of Nitrile Gloves:

• More expensive to purchase.
• Less flexible than other glove types.

Vinyl Gloves

Another option available to the food industry is vinyl gloves. These are ideal for shorter activities where perhaps regular glove changes are required.

This is because they are not quite as robust as other materials. They are great for low maintenance food handling but not appropriate for any type of cleaning.

These are typically blue or clear, with blue being the preferred choice in the food industry. They are made from PVC and were one of the first materials to replace latex.

Advantages of Vinyl Gloves:-

• Cost effective
• Keeps hands safe from contamination.
• Quite comfortable
• Used as an alternative to latex.
• Versatile and can be used for food handling, preparation and cooking.

Disadvantages of Vinyl Gloves:-

• Not environmentally friendly.
• Not as robust and can be prone to contamination risks as a result.

Polyethene Gloves

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Polyethene gloves are clear, and a good option for low risk food duties. They are popular but not as strong as other gloves.

They should ideally only be used for lighter kitchen duties. This includes jobs with ready to eat foods. They are quite thin and great for people with sensitive skin. They are made with one of the cheapest and most readily available plastics.

Advantages of Polyethene Gloves:-

• Great for quick and light food preparation tasks.
• Eco friendly
• Easy to put on and take off.
• Cost effective

Disadvantages of Polyethene Gloves:-

• Not as versatile as other gloves.

Latex Gloves

Latex gloves are probably the most comfortable type of glove to wear for prolonged periods. However, allergies to latex have become a common problem over recent years.

This is why there are so many alternatives available. The rubber used to produce latex gloves is natural – they are made using a combination of water and tree rubber.

Many people who are allergic to latex have complaints such as skin irritations and coming out in rashes. Understandably then, they will not be suitable for skin contact with anyone who suffers from a latex injury.

Advantages of Latex Gloves:-

• Comfortable and durable.
• Can be used for all kitchen duties.
• One of the original materials to be used by the food industry is protective gloves.

Disadvantages of Latex Gloves:-

• With around 10% of the UK population allergic to latex it isn’t as widely used today.

Best Practises for Using Food Handling Gloves

It’s vital to understand the best and the most efficient ways to use gloves when handling food.

You must also practise good, thorough hand washing even when gloves are used. Here’s some tips on getting the best from your gloves from a food hygiene perspective:-

• If you cut your finger, always wear gloves when working with food.
• Always wear gloves when dealing with raw meats.
• Hands should be washed and dried before putting on each pair of gloves.
• Gloves should be changed when switching to a new task to prevent cross contamination.
• Change gloves if you cough or sneeze into them and wash your hands too.
• As an absolute maximum, gloves should be changed every 4 hours if not required in the meantime.
• Disposable gloves should never be reused.
• Any employee who wears nail polish or false nails should wear gloves. This shouldn’t be the case though in a place where food is handled and prepared.

Alternatives to Food Handling Gloves

With gloves not being an actual legal requirement, there are some alternatives to food handling gloves.

This mainly involves intense handwashing. A separate sink should always be available to employees for this purpose. An appropriate soap should be available at all times as well as hygienic hand drying practices.

One advantage to wearing gloves is to help protect hands from dry, sore hands and conditions such as dermatitis. This helps businesses ensure they are keeping within COSHH regulations. As well as the food preparation, employees deal with harsh cleaning chemicals too.

This can have a detrimental effect on the skin. Gloves offer that protective barrier and help prevent potential problems such as dermatitis.

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