, /PRNewswire/ -- Over 100 billion disposable gloves are used in every year and a good proportion of them contain chemical and microbial contaminants that are a threat to worker and public health. This is an issue urgently needing cleaning up, according to global protective glove suppliers . The research behind these claims is presented in a article published this month in the 's Journal of Food Protection.
This coincided with the Association's annual meeting this week that drew food science and safety professionals from around the world to to discuss these issues and more. The paper "Potential for Glove Risk Amplification via Direct Physical, Chemical, and Microbiological Contamination" cites cheap toxic glove chemicals such as BPA, phthalates and PFAS contributing to potential health issues including carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, fertility impairment, and skin diseases including dermatitis. Microbial contamination of new, unused gloves including E.
coli and Listeria from polluted water used in manufacture was reported, with 46 percent of imported gloves in the sample of 2,600 contaminated with traces of human fecal matter. The analysis highlights the need for more rigorous sourcing, validation, and quality testing to ensure gloves meet the highest safety standards before use. It emphasizes the importance of incorporating rigorous glove safety measures into hazard analysis and food safety programs to avoid contamination incidents.
Gloves are essential safety equipme.