Under what condition should food workers wear gloves?

Food workers should wear gloves when handling ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination between raw foods and foods that are ready to be consumed. Ready-to-eat foods, such as salads or sandwiches, do not require further cooking to be safe for consumption, which means any harmful pathogens present on hands can directly affect the consumer if gloves are not used. Wearing gloves serves as a barrier that keeps these pathogens away from the food, thus enhancing food safety.

In contrast, while cooking raw meat may involve tasks that could be messy or require protective measures, gloves are not strictly necessary at that stage since the cooking process kills harmful bacteria. Similarly, while raw vegetables are often washed and kept separate from meats, they typically require some form of cleaning and preparation that can also involve hand washing. Lastly, when washing dishes, gloves are not meant for food handling but rather for personal protection against the chemicals and heat involved in cleaning.