Under what circumstances should gloves be changed?

• A. When torn or visibly soiled
• B. After handling raw foods
• C. All of the above
• D. Before touching ready-to-eat foods

Answer: (C)

Gloves act as a barrier to prevent contamination, but they must be changed whenever that barrier could be compromised or when you switch tasks that could transfer contaminants. If gloves are torn or visibly dirty, the barrier is broken and pathogens can reach food or surfaces, so they should be changed right away. After handling raw foods, gloves can pick up bacteria from those foods, and changing them helps prevent cross-contamination to other foods or utensils. Before touching ready-to-eat foods, gloves should be fresh to avoid transferring any contaminants to foods that won’t be cooked further. Because these situations all require maintaining a clean barrier, the best practice is to change gloves in each case. In practice, gloves aren’t a substitute for washing hands, and you should wash hands and put on fresh gloves as you transition between tasks and food types.