When should gloves be worn while handling food?

Wearing gloves while handling food is essential to prevent the risk of contamination. Gloves create a barrier between the food and any potential contaminants on the hands, such as bacteria, viruses, or allergens. This is particularly important in environments where various types of food are being prepared or served, as it's easy to transfer harmful pathogens from one surface or food type to another through direct hand contact.

Using gloves whenever there is a risk of contamination ensures that all food handling situations are covered, including not just the handling of raw meat, serving to customers, or specific types of food, but also any time food is prepared or touched. This practice promotes overall food safety and hygiene, reducing the likelihood of foodborne illnesses.

In contrast, limiting glove use to just raw meat, serving food, or only certain types of food does not adequately address all opportunities for cross-contamination, which is why the broader approach of using gloves whenever there's a risk is the correct guideline.