What is the purpose of using gloves when handling prepared food?

The primary purpose of using gloves when handling prepared food is to avoid contamination from hands. Gloves act as a barrier between your skin and the food, preventing bacteria, dirt, and other contaminants that may be present on the skin from transferring to the food. This is especially important in food service settings where maintaining hygiene is crucial to ensure the safety of the food being served.

Using gloves also helps to protect the food from bodily fluids and natural oils from the hands, contributing to overall food safety standards. For instance, even though hands might appear clean, they can still carry pathogens that could lead to foodborne illnesses if they come into contact with food. By wearing gloves, food handlers reduce the risk of cross-contamination, thus ensuring that the food remains safe for consumption.

While maintaining employee safety regulations is important, the primary focus when using gloves in a food preparation context is specifically to maintain food hygiene and prevent contamination. Therefore, using gloves is a key practice in food safety protocols.