Food workers are required to change gloves in the following situations to maintain food safety and prevent contamination:
- When switching tasks, such as moving from handling raw meat to ready-to-eat foods, or after interruptions like answering the phone or taking out the garbage.
- If gloves become torn, ripped, or visibly dirty.
- After continuous use for 4 hours, even if gloves appear undamaged, because pathogens can multiply to dangerous levels.
- When gloves are known or suspected to be contaminated, for example after touching hair, face, or non-food surfaces like phones or trash cans.
- At the start of a new shift or after coming back from a break.
Additionally, food workers must wash their hands before putting on new gloves and between glove changes to reduce contamination risks. Gloves are single-use and should never be reused or washed and reused. These practices align with FDA guidelines and general food safety best practices to reduce cross- contamination and foodborne illness risks.
