Barry S Michaels, Troy Ayers, Jenna Brooks-McLaughlin, Ryan J McLaughlin, Katherine Sandoval-Warren, Casey Schlenker, Lynda Ronaldson, Steve Ardagh
This review focuses on the potential direct physical, chemical, and microbiological contamination from disposable gloves when utilized in food environments, inclusive of the risks posed to food products as well as worker safety. Unrecognized problems endemic to glove manufacturing were magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic due to high demand, increased focus on PPE performance, availability, supply chain instability, and labor shortages. Multiple evidence-based reports of contamination, toxicity, illness, deaths, and related regulatory action linked to contaminated gloves in food and healthcare, have highlighted problems indicative of systemic glove industry shortcomings...
April 26, 2024: Journal of Food Protection