HEALTH & SAFETY
“ Staff training plays a critical role in reducing contamination risks in the gloves-versus-hands debate,” says Luzzatto.“ Good training ensures staff understand how, when, and why to use gloves properly and when handwashing is more important.”
Training should cover:
• Correct glove use, emphasising that gloves are not a substitute for clean hands.
• Proper hand hygiene; teaching staff the right way to wash hands, when to do so, and why it’ s necessary.
• Clearing up misconceptions: Many kitchen staff believe gloves automatically make food handling safer, but Luzzatto highlights that dirty gloves can be as dangerous as dirty hands.
• Recognising contamination risks: Trained staff are able to identify hazards like touching phones or hair, and they’ ll understand how these actions can compromise food safety.
• Building a culture of safety: Regular training reinforces safe habits, ensuring that staff hold each other accountable for proper hygiene practices.
Global perspectives
The debate over gloves versus bare hands is not only a matter of local policy but also varies depending on regional food safety regulations. In countries like the US, gloves are mandatory for ready-to-eat foods, while in the UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, gloves are optional, with hand hygiene prioritised.
Luzzatto explains,“ In South Africa, gloves may be used for ready-to-eat or non-prepacked foods under Regulation
R638, but proper handwashing remains the primary safeguard.” Regardless of the country, Luzzatto stresses that glove use is always considered supplementary and risk-based, never a replacement for thorough hand hygiene.
“ The industry is definitely moving toward reinforcing hand hygiene as the gold standard, while clarifying and enforcing the appropriate use of gloves as a supplement, not a substitute,” Luzzatto says. She also points to the growing emphasis on reducing the overuse of gloves, which can contribute to cross-contamination, increased waste, and a false sense of security which may lead to skipping of critical hand-hygiene steps.
The gloves-versus-hands debate is not one that will be settled anytime soon, but it is clear that proper hand hygiene is non-negotiable. TT
124 TRADE & TASTE / 2026