When it’s time to change our gloves
Gloves are not a substitute for handwashing so here’s our guide to making sure they don’t cause cross-contamination.
While gloves are not required by law for food handling, they are widely used for food hygiene. Just remember, gloves should never replace proper handwashing and, if we’re not careful, they can lead to cross-contamination.
Cross contamination - when harmful bacteria are accidentally transferred from raw food to ready-to-eat food – is the leading cause of food poisoning. Gloves alone can’t prevent this. To keep customers safe, we need to wash our hands before and after putting on gloves and be sure we change our gloves after every task.
We should change our gloves after:
- Handling raw food especially meat, fish and root veg
- They get damaged - tears or punctures
- Handling rubbish or waste
- Using devices, like your phone, or electronic payment devices
- Handling the till or money
- Sneezing or any other activity that can compromise hygiene.
- Cleaning
- Starting or switching tasks
And most importantly always make sure to wash hands before and after putting them on, and after taking them off.
Why? Because gloves are not a substitute for handwashing.
Train your staff for free about food hygiene with our FREE safefood for business training Modules 4 and 5.
