New Law: Food Service Alert

FOOD SERVICE ALERT:    
DO NOT USE LATEX GLOVES USE ONLY LATEX FREE GLOVES

Protect Your Worker and Patrons from Latex Allergies

Exposure to natural rubber latex gloves may result in an allergic reaction, such as a skin rash, runny eyes and nose, difficulty breathing, anaphylactic shock, and death.

Effective July 13, 2001, The Latex Gloves Safety Act prohibits the use of natural rubber latex gloves in any food service establishment, such as restaurants, caterers, taverns, private clubs, cafeterias, retail food stores that cook and offer prepared foods in individual portions. R.I. Gen. Laws Sec. 23-72-2.

Penalty for a violation is a $500 fine and other penalties permitted by law.
If you have any questions, please call the Dept. of Health 222-2750 (Food Protection Unit)

NOTE: The Rhode Island Food Code requires no bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods. Suitable utensils such as deli tissue, tongs, spatulas or single-use glove must be used. Alternatives to latex gloves include vinyl, synthetic and nitrile gloves.