When handling ready-to-eat food, what must food handlers do?

When handling ready-to-eat food, wearing single-use gloves is crucial for preventing cross-contamination and protecting the food from pathogens that may be present on the food handlers' hands. Single-use gloves create a barrier between the hands and the food, significantly reducing the risk of transferring harmful bacteria, viruses, or allergens. This practice is especially important in food service settings, where foodborne illness can arise from improper handling.

The requirement for using gloves aligns with food safety regulations and best practices, emphasizing the importance of hygiene when dealing with items that are consumed without further cooking. This precaution ultimately helps to ensure that the food served to customers is safe and minimizes the risks associated with foodborne illnesses.

While sanitizing hands and wearing an apron are also important hygiene practices, they do not specifically address the direct handling of food like gloves do. Additionally, using bare hands is generally discouraged when dealing with ready-to-eat foods because it increases the risk of contamination.