Wearing gloves in the food area is essential. Why? The use of disposable gloves makes it possible to comply with strict hygiene rules. The gloves protect the products from contact with harmful substances. Are you wondering which gloves are suitable for food? You are in the right place with us!
Disposable gloves in the food area. Which material is best?
Disposable gloves made of latex, nitrile and vinyl are available on the market. Disposable vinyl gloves are unsuitable for contact with oils, fats, meat and sausages. When dealing with raw vegetables or baked goods, however, they can be used very well. Latex gloves are also not an optimal solution for the food industry. Although these gloves are very flexible and offer a high level of comfort, they are unsuitable for contact with fats and oils. Like vinyl gloves, powder-free latex gloves can be used in contact with raw vegetables and baked goods.
Which disposable gloves are suitable for food? Nitrile gloves are the best choice. Nitrile gloves are suitable for handling different foods. They can also be used for working with fatty foods.
Legal basis – disposable gloves in the food industry
It should be emphasized that gloves in the food sector are subject to certain regulations and standards:
- Regulation 1935/2004/EG (framework regulation for food contact) – this regulation stipulates that disposable gloves must not release any substances into food that endanger human health;
- EU Regulation 10/2011 (Directive for plastics with food contact) – according to the regulation, disposable plastic gloves may release a maximum of 10mg/qdm to the food with which they come into contact;
- EU food hygiene regulation (EG) No. 852/2004 – according to this regulation, all food manufacturers are obliged to prepare an HACCP concept and to introduce it into their manufacturing processes. (HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points);
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Directive; EU Directive 89/686/EC – according to the directive, disposable gloves (as well as other personal protective equipment) must be CE marked.
Nitrile gloves in the food area
Nitrile gloves can be used in many areas. Nowadays, high-quality nitrile gloves are used not only in the medical field, but also in the food industry and gastronomy. Are nitrile gloves suitable for food? The gloves can be used without restrictions in contact with food. High-quality nitrile gloves comply with European Standard 374. In practice, this means that the disposable gloves protect against harmful chemicals and microorganisms.
Black gloves are a popular choice in gastronomy and catering. Blue disposable gloves, on the other hand, are often used in food production because blue glove scraps can be quickly identified and removed from most foods.
Buy the right food gloves
Are you looking for flexible and durable food gloves? We recommend food-grade nitrile gloves. When purchasing the gloves, you should consider a few important aspects. The products must be labeled with the “glass and fork symbol” pictogram. The symbol means that the gloves, when used correctly, do not release any harmful substances into food. The CE mark is also very important. It confirms that the gloves meet European requirements for safety, health protection and environmental protection.