Proper use of gloves can protect food from contamination, provide workers with protection against injury and increase worker comfort. Gloves can protect food from contamination during handling, and are used to comply with food safety regulations and recommendations; protect workers against injury and contamination; and increase comfort for workers.

1. To protect food contamination is the presence of undesirable elements, including physical objects, chemicals or pathogenic microorganisms in a food product. Wearing gloves is a practical measure which a food handler can take to prevent any unnecessary contact with ready-to-eat food, provided the gloves are changed once they become contaminated.

1. To comply with food safety recommendations, standards and regulations most legal jurisdictions worldwide, bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods is either outlawed or heavily discouraged by governments and food safety authorities. The FDA recommends the use of suitable single-use gloves when handling food items, particularly when handling ready-to-eat foods. Workers do not require food handlers to use gloves and suggests that even when gloves are used, utensils including tongs or spoons may still be preferable to reduce the risk of contamination through contact. Workers who have cuts on their hands or are wearing bandages, the wearing of gloves is required, it means reducing or eliminating bare hand contact and implementing strict hand hygiene policies. Gloves play an important role in meeting the legal requirements for safe food handling.

1. To protect workers. Gloves are used to provide comfort and protection of food industry workers as well as to prevent skin irritations from contact with food chemicals, moisture and harsh cleaning solutions. Gloves are also worn by food handlers to cover open cuts and sores on hands. The most common industrial injuries are injuries to the hands and fingers. These range from minor cuts and rashes to serious long-term injuries. These injuries are caused by hazards in the food processing environment such as sharp-edge tools, temperature extremes, harsh sanitising solutions and cleaning chemicals. Cut-proof gloves protect workers from minor cuts and injuries if they are used properly. Insulating gloves protect workers hands from the extremes of cold found in cold rooms and freezer environments. Gloves also protect workers from contamination from pathogenic microorganisms when working with raw meat, poultry, seafood, or animal carcasses.