1.3 Grooming and Personal Hygiene Standards

Beyond handwashing, food handlers must maintain proper grooming to prevent contamination.

Hair Restraints

Hair is a physical contaminant that can carry bacteria and fall into food.

Requirements:

• Hair must be effectively restrained (hat, hairnet, visor)
• Beards and mustaches need beard guards
• Clean hair covering should be worn at all times in food prep areas

Fingernails

Fingernails harbor bacteria and are difficult to clean properly.

Requirements:

• Keep nails short and clean
• No nail polish - it can chip into food
• No artificial nails - they can fall off and hide bacteria

Jewelry

Jewelry can fall into food, trap bacteria, or interfere with gloves.

What to remove:

• Rings (except plain wedding band in some operations)
• Bracelets and watches
• Dangling earrings
• Necklaces that hang outside clothing

Work Clothing

Requirements:

• Wear clean clothing or uniform
• Change apron if it becomes soiled
• Remove apron before using restroom
• Store personal items away from food areas

Eating, Drinking, and Smoking

Food handlers should NOT:

• Eat or drink in food prep areas
• Smoke or use tobacco products in food areas
• Chew gum while working with food

Exception: Drinking from a covered container with a straw is often permitted in designated areas.

Personal Behaviors to Avoid

Glove Use

When to wear gloves:

• Handling ready-to-eat foods
• When you have wounds on hands

When to change gloves:

• After touching raw meat before ready-to-eat food
• After touching face, hair, or other body parts
• After handling dirty equipment
• After taking out garbage
• When gloves become torn or dirty
• At least every 4 hours during continuous use

For the Exam: Remember that gloves are NOT a substitute for handwashing. Always wash hands before putting on gloves and after removing them.