State Food Safety Practice Exam

When should food workers change their gloves?

1. Before starting food preparation

2. After handling raw food only

3. When switching between different types of food

4. Only when they tear

The correct answer is: When switching between different types of food

Food workers should change their gloves when switching between different types of food to prevent cross-contamination. This practice is essential in maintaining food safety, particularly when transitioning from raw food, which may harbor harmful bacteria, to cooked or ready-to-eat foods. By changing gloves, workers minimize the risk of contaminating food that is safe for consumption with pathogens from raw products. Although changing gloves before starting food preparation and after handling raw food are both good practices, they do not encompass the need for glove changes during food preparation processes that involve multiple types of food. Changing gloves only when they tear is not sufficient, as it may lead to cross-contamination and compromises food safety if workers do not change them frequently enough during food handling. Therefore, proper glove management, including changing gloves between different food types, is critical in food safety protocols.