When should gloves be changed while preparing food?

Changing gloves after handling raw food and before touching ready-to-eat foods is crucial in preventing cross-contamination. Raw foods, especially meats, poultry, and seafood, can harbor harmful bacteria that pose significant health risks if they come into contact with foods that are ready to eat. By ensuring that gloves are changed between these two types of food, you effectively create a barrier that minimizes the risk of foodborne illnesses. This practice is part of safe food handling protocols and aligns with guidelines set forth by health authorities to maintain food safety standards in food preparation environments.

The other options do not adequately address the important practice of maintaining food safety. For instance, only changing gloves when they tear may lead to prolonged exposure to contaminants. Changing gloves every hour does not consider the specific risks at the moment of handling different types of food. Lastly, the notion that gloves do not need to be changed overlooks the essential practice of hygiene and prevention of cross-contamination.