How often should gloves be changed in a food preparation setting?

In a food preparation setting, gloves should be changed every 4 hours or in between tasks when needed to maintain proper hygiene and food safety standards. This practice is essential to prevent cross-contamination, which can occur when handling different types of food or when gloves become contaminated with bacteria, allergens, or other harmful substances.

Changing gloves regularly helps ensure that food handlers do not inadvertently transfer pathogens between food items, particularly when shifting from raw to ready-to-eat foods, where the risk of cross-contamination is highest. Additionally, gloves should be changed immediately if they become soiled or torn, or after handling raw products before engaging with cooked or ready-to-eat foods, regardless of the time elapsed. This frequency and responsiveness to different tasks underscores the importance of maintaining a clean and safe environment for food preparation.