Oct 14, 2010 /EIN Presswire/ – The wearing of gloves can cause a false sense of security when it comes to food safety, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Food Protection. The study states that even when gloves are used properly in food preparation, they can’t by themselves protect against food contamination.
The authors warn that gloves are never a substitute for thorough hand-washing and urge food workers to always wash their hands regardless of whether they use gloves or not.
The longer gloves are worn, the less effective they become, the study says. Bacteria can travel through the tiniest holes or tears in gloves, and long fingernails or jewelry increase the likelihood of a glove puncture. The study recommends that food preparers put on a new pair of gloves every two hours or whenever they switch from handling raw meat to handling vegetables or other foods.
In addition to gloves, the study urges that hair nets, clean utensils, deli papers, food shields and appropriate clothing be used as a barrier to contamination.
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