Why should food handling gloves be used?

Using food handling gloves is essential primarily for the prevention of contamination during food preparation and serving processes. When a food handler wears gloves, it acts as a barrier between their hands and the food, significantly reducing the risk of transferring harmful bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants that may be present on their skin. This practice helps maintain food safety standards by protecting the food from potential pathogens that can lead to foodborne illnesses.

While enhancing the presentation of food and keeping fingers warm might seem beneficial in some contexts, these reasons do not align with the primary purpose of using gloves in food safety. Moreover, gloves are not meant to replace proper handwashing; rather, they should be used in conjunction with regular hand hygiene practices. It's important to remember that gloves can become contaminated as well, so changing them regularly and maintaining cleanliness is also crucial in ensuring food safety.