How often should you change your gloves or wash your hands when using disposable gloves?

The practice of changing gloves or washing hands based on contamination is vital for food safety. When working with disposable gloves, they should be changed whenever they become damaged or contaminated. This ensures that harmful bacteria or pathogens do not transfer to the food being prepared or served, which can lead to foodborne illnesses.

For example, if gloves come into contact with raw meat, they can become contaminated with pathogens like Salmonella or E. coli. Continuing to use those same gloves without changing them poses a significant risk, as those pathogens can then be transferred to ready-to-eat foods or other surfaces.

Additionally, proper handwashing before donning new gloves is important, especially if hands were previously in contact with food or surfaces that may harbor bacteria. By adhering to this practice, food handlers contribute to a safe and hygienic food environment.

Other options provide a less effective approach to food safety. Changing gloves only once per shift or after every hour does not account for instances when gloves become unsafe during food preparation. Similarly, changing gloves only before handling raw food overlooks the potential contamination that can occur from bacteria on hands or surfaces at other times during food preparation.