What is a risk associated with food handlers wearing gloves?

Wearing gloves is often seen as a protective measure for both food handlers and the food itself. However, a significant risk associated with the use of gloves is that they can create a false sense of security. This false sense can lead to complacency regarding proper hygiene practices. For instance, food handlers might neglect to wash their hands or change gloves frequently because they believe that wearing gloves alone is sufficient to maintain food safety. Gloves can become contaminated just like hands, and if handlers do not regularly change them or clean their hands properly, they may inadvertently transfer pathogens to food. Hence, the reliance on gloves without proper hand hygiene can compromise food safety rather than enhance it.

In the context of food handling, this risk underscores the importance of incorporating gloves into a broader hygiene standard that includes regular handwashing and frequent glove changes to truly ensure food safety.