Are Nitrile Gloves Food Safe? Here's What You Should Know!

2022-11-07 16:10:12 By : Mr. sam cheung

EDC Magazine is supported by its audience. When you purchase via our links, we may get a commission. Learn more

Fact checked by Andrew Carnegie

According to the FDA, foodborne illnesses affect 48 million Americans annually, resulting in over 3,000 deaths. The number raises the alarm for safe food preparation and handling, which can simply be achieved by wearing disposable gloves.

However, what kind of single-use gloves should you wear? Are nitrile gloves food safe? The short answer is yes. Nitrile food grade gloves are some of the best for food handling because they are resilient, oil-resistant, additive-free, and allergy-safe.

While there are endless disposable cooking gloves options, food safe nitrile gloves are the most recommended. The material is suitable for latex-allergic people, free of additives during the manufacturing process.

Firstly, nitrile gloves are ideal for workers with latex skin allergies. Its name stands for nitrile butadiene rubber, which is a type of latex-free synthetic rubber.

Secondly, the process of making nitrile gloves is additive-free. To create nitrile gloves, manufacturers first mix two synthetic polymers – acrylonitrile and butadiene.

The mixture is then blended and stabilized into a consistent compound. Finally, hand-shape molds are dipped into the compound and dried to form nitrile gloves. During this process, manufacturers might add little to no chemical additives.

That is why nitrile gloves are preferred in laboratories and sterilized environments. Similarly, the material won’t contaminate food with potentially harmful allergens or chemicals.

Lastly, nitrile butadiene rubber is naturally waterproof and oil-resistant. Chefs can use nitrile gloves for cooking, garnishing, and chopping oily food without worrying about penetration.

However, note that not all nitrile gloves are designed for food preparation. When choosing nitrile gloves for food handling, you should look for the following characteristics:

Rubber handwear must meet FDA regulations to be certified as food grade disposable gloves. According to the FDA’s CFR Title 21, the glove materials must be sanitary, impermeable, and safe for food preparation and packaging.

Thus, you should always look for mentions of FDA or HACCP on a brand’s website before purchasing their products. Doing so guarantees that you are using safe gloves for handling food.

Nitrile gloves can be medical-grade, food-grade, or industry-grade. The three types have the same source materials but differ in thickness, strength, and overall quality.

Though the FDA approves all of them for food handling, medical-grade gloves are more resilient and durable than the rest.

So, food grade vs medical grade gloves, which one is better? The biggest difference is medical gloves must undergo more rigorous tests and meet higher standards.

In general, food grade nitrile gloves provide enough protection. But if you want to take a step further at food safety, you can opt for medical or examination gloves.

Nitrile gloves can be powdered or powder-free. The added powder is fine cornstarch, which intends to ensure easier donning and doffing. The powder also helps absorb sweat and moisture, keeping the wearers’ hands dry through extended wear.

However, cornstarch powder poses many potential health risks, such as respiratory inflammation, irritations, and allergies.

Besides affecting the wearers, the powder can spread onto food and cause allergies in the customers. Thus, the safest nitrile food service gloves should be powder-free.

It’s been known for a long time that bare-hand contact with food can transmit foodborne illnesses from the cook’s hands to the food. The pathogens can spread even when the workers don’t realize they are sick.

Handwashing alone is not enough to prevent pathogen transmissions. Thus, workers should wear FDA approved food handling gloves when touching ready-to-eat food and preparing raw materials.

Gloves can also protect employees from foods that cause skin irritations, such as pepper and onion.

Blue vs black nitrile gloves: What is the difference?

Nitrile gloves are available in many shades: white, blue, black, purple, and pink. But the colors do not affect the quality of the gloves.

White and blue nitrile gloves are often used in medical settings because they allow caregivers to spot blood, bodily fluids, and deterioration more easily.

Meanwhile, black and dark-colored rubber gloves are often worn by tattoo artists and mechanics since they hide the color of inks, oil, and greases.

You can use any glove color to handle food, provided that the pair is FDA-approved. In some facilities, workers color code nitrile gloves to distinguish their sizes and prevent cross-contamination.

Are nitrile gloves toxic to humans?

No, nitrile is not toxic to humans, but the material is not eco-friendly. The original material for creating nitrile rubber is crude oil, which is non-renewable and can cause negative impacts on the environment upon collection.

In addition, as a synthetic material, nitrile is non-biodegradable. It can take hundreds of years for a pair of nitrile gloves to biodegrade in a landfill.

Reasons why nitrile gloves are used for cooking

Nitrile gloves are well-known for their cleanliness and strength. Employees can wear them when working with food processing machinery without worrying about glove deterioration. They are also contaminate-free and additive-free.

Nitrile has higher chemical resistance than latex and vinyl. However, the material is not impermeable. Strong-grade chemicals can still pass through and deteriorate it. You should also change gloves after four hours of use, regardless of the material.

Are vinyl gloves food safe?

Yes, they are. Vinyl gloves are safe, comfortable, and latex-free. They are available in multiple thicknesses and can be used for nearly any task. Even though they are not as resilient as nitrile gloves, they are softer and more cost-efficient.

Related: Check out this quick comparison between vinyl vs nitrile gloves right here.

Are latex gloves food safe?

Since latex poses a risk of allergy for the wearers and customers, the answer is no. You should use nitrile gloves instead.

In conclusion, the answer to “Are nitrile gloves food safe?” is yes. In fact, nitrile is one of the safest materials for food handling. As long as the pair is FDA-approved, food or medical-grade (and even industrial-grade), plus powder-free, you can wear it for the task.

Veronica is our content editor. She is a talent in delivery. Her main work is editing and writing articles that are both informative and simple to follow. She is in charge of synthesizing our understanding of what personal protection equipment (PPE) is needed in each job, how to best apply it, and how to visualize that equipment.

Safety Glasses Work Gloves Face Protection Head Protection

The Best Eyeglass Cleaning Machines for 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 Are you searching for the best eyeglass cleaning machine because you are tired of cleaning your glasses yourself? You may already feel tired of wiping your glasses for what seemed … Read more How to Fix Your Broken Glasses Bridge: 3 Simple Ways Posted: June 2, 2022 Having myopia or other eye-related illnesses means your life becomes more difficult without your beloved glasses. Yet, one day, you woke up on the wrong side of the bed and … Read more How to Remove Spray Paint from Eyeglasses – A Detailed Guide Posted: June 2, 2022 Working with spray paint is not easy, even the most careful person might have sprinkles of pigment in the wrong place once in a while. But, you don’t need to … Read more More

How Do Cut-resistant Gloves Work? Science Behind These Supreme PPE Posted: June 2, 2022 How do cut-resistant gloves work? The magic lies in their supreme yarn. Safety cutting gloves are made with machine-knitted and cut-resistant materials that can be 15 times stronger than steel. … Read more How to Get Gasoline Smell Out of Gloves Effectively? Posted: June 2, 2022 Do you wash the gasoline spills on your clothes many times but the smell lingers? Don’t worry anymore! With this guide on how to get gasoline smell out of gloves, … Read more The Best Chemical Resistant Gloves for Ultimate Protection Posted: November 2, 2022 Imagine what your life will be like if you do not have full use of your hands. It would not be quite as pleasant as it is right now. This … Read more More

The Best Face Shields for Working and Travelling Posted: November 2, 2022 Safety gears and protective equipment, like the best face shield, are vital especially if you are a worker who performs your job in a compromising or dangerous work environment. This … Read more The Best Dust Masks to Protect You From Various Particles Posted: November 2, 2022 Breathing is a natural part of life. However, when the air you are breathing in is not clean because of airborne particles, smoke, fumes, vapors, and other allergens and contaminants, … Read more The Best Masks for Smoke That Are Ideal for Construction Posted: November 2, 2022 Are you searching for the best mask for smoke and dust? Do you live in an area with air that is heavily polluted or suffers from the occasional smoke from … Read more More

The Best Hard Hat Stickers for 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 A hard hat refers to a kind of personal protective equipment, which comes in the form of a helmet that you can wear in a workplace as a means of … Read more The Best Hard Hats to Provide Excellent Protection Posted: November 2, 2022 Just like work boots, safety glasses, high visibility vest, and work gloves, the best hard hats are also a vital piece of personal protective equipment (PPE). It is mainly because … Read more The Best Headlamps for Work of 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 Finding the best headlamp for work is a great move for a worker regardless of the industry he/she is in. If you are a construction worker, electrician, plumber, or a … Read more More

The Best Eyeglass Cleaning Machines for 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 Are you searching for the best eyeglass cleaning machine because you are tired of cleaning your glasses yourself? You may already feel tired of wiping your glasses for what seemed … Read more How to Fix Your Broken Glasses Bridge: 3 Simple Ways Posted: June 2, 2022 Having myopia or other eye-related illnesses means your life becomes more difficult without your beloved glasses. Yet, one day, you woke up on the wrong side of the bed and … Read more How to Remove Spray Paint from Eyeglasses – A Detailed Guide Posted: June 2, 2022 Working with spray paint is not easy, even the most careful person might have sprinkles of pigment in the wrong place once in a while. But, you don’t need to … Read more

Are you searching for the best eyeglass cleaning machine because you are tired of cleaning your glasses yourself? You may already feel tired of wiping your glasses for what seemed … Read more

Having myopia or other eye-related illnesses means your life becomes more difficult without your beloved glasses. Yet, one day, you woke up on the wrong side of the bed and … Read more

Working with spray paint is not easy, even the most careful person might have sprinkles of pigment in the wrong place once in a while. But, you don’t need to … Read more

How Do Cut-resistant Gloves Work? Science Behind These Supreme PPE Posted: June 2, 2022 How do cut-resistant gloves work? The magic lies in their supreme yarn. Safety cutting gloves are made with machine-knitted and cut-resistant materials that can be 15 times stronger than steel. … Read more How to Get Gasoline Smell Out of Gloves Effectively? Posted: June 2, 2022 Do you wash the gasoline spills on your clothes many times but the smell lingers? Don’t worry anymore! With this guide on how to get gasoline smell out of gloves, … Read more The Best Chemical Resistant Gloves for Ultimate Protection Posted: November 2, 2022 Imagine what your life will be like if you do not have full use of your hands. It would not be quite as pleasant as it is right now. This … Read more

How do cut-resistant gloves work? The magic lies in their supreme yarn. Safety cutting gloves are made with machine-knitted and cut-resistant materials that can be 15 times stronger than steel. … Read more

Do you wash the gasoline spills on your clothes many times but the smell lingers? Don’t worry anymore! With this guide on how to get gasoline smell out of gloves, … Read more

Imagine what your life will be like if you do not have full use of your hands. It would not be quite as pleasant as it is right now. This … Read more

The Best Face Shields for Working and Travelling Posted: November 2, 2022 Safety gears and protective equipment, like the best face shield, are vital especially if you are a worker who performs your job in a compromising or dangerous work environment. This … Read more The Best Dust Masks to Protect You From Various Particles Posted: November 2, 2022 Breathing is a natural part of life. However, when the air you are breathing in is not clean because of airborne particles, smoke, fumes, vapors, and other allergens and contaminants, … Read more The Best Masks for Smoke That Are Ideal for Construction Posted: November 2, 2022 Are you searching for the best mask for smoke and dust? Do you live in an area with air that is heavily polluted or suffers from the occasional smoke from … Read more

Safety gears and protective equipment, like the best face shield, are vital especially if you are a worker who performs your job in a compromising or dangerous work environment. This … Read more

Breathing is a natural part of life. However, when the air you are breathing in is not clean because of airborne particles, smoke, fumes, vapors, and other allergens and contaminants, … Read more

Are you searching for the best mask for smoke and dust? Do you live in an area with air that is heavily polluted or suffers from the occasional smoke from … Read more

The Best Hard Hat Stickers for 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 A hard hat refers to a kind of personal protective equipment, which comes in the form of a helmet that you can wear in a workplace as a means of … Read more The Best Hard Hats to Provide Excellent Protection Posted: November 2, 2022 Just like work boots, safety glasses, high visibility vest, and work gloves, the best hard hats are also a vital piece of personal protective equipment (PPE). It is mainly because … Read more The Best Headlamps for Work of 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 Finding the best headlamp for work is a great move for a worker regardless of the industry he/she is in. If you are a construction worker, electrician, plumber, or a … Read more

A hard hat refers to a kind of personal protective equipment, which comes in the form of a helmet that you can wear in a workplace as a means of … Read more

Just like work boots, safety glasses, high visibility vest, and work gloves, the best hard hats are also a vital piece of personal protective equipment (PPE). It is mainly because … Read more

Finding the best headlamp for work is a great move for a worker regardless of the industry he/she is in. If you are a construction worker, electrician, plumber, or a … Read more

Work Boots Hearing Protection Work Pants Ergonomic Supports

The Best Work Boots for Wide Feet Posted: November 2, 2022 Wearing good-fitting boots can reduce the risk of getting calluses, blisters, and other problems. However, walking into a safety footwear shop can be annoying, only to find that the brand … Read more The Best Work Boots for Women (Steel Toe, Composite Toe, Tactical and Other Boots) Posted: November 2, 2022 There is nothing that women cannot do! Falling objects, wet floors, chemical spillage, and open circuits are just some of the potential hazards at the job site. As you brave … Read more What Type of Footwear That Protects Your Entire Foot? Posted: June 2, 2022 Oftentimes we only care about the trendy look a pair of shoes can offer. But it is their protection properties that we should pay close attention to. You might be … Read more More

The Best Hearing Protection for Woodworking in 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 A lot of audiologists agree that continuous exposure to the noise produced by the power tools used in woodworking is extremely hazardous to one’s hearing. This is the main reason … Read more The Best Hearing Protections for Lawn Mowing for 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 Did you know that anything over 85 dB (decibels) can cause severe damage to your ears when exposed to prolonged duration? In fact, studies suggest that sounds over 85 decibels … Read more The Best Hearing Protection for Construction of 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 Everyone who works in the construction industry is fully aware of how important it is to protect their eyes and head from possible injuries and vision damage. However, not all … Read more More

The Best Work Pants for Hot Weather (Lightweight & Breathable) Posted: November 2, 2022 Every workwear is vital because it promotes safety in the workplace. It helps workers go through brutal summer months on the job. And for that to happen, this article laid … Read more The Best Work Pants for Electricians for 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 Being an electrician is no easy task. You work day in and day out either under the hot sun or fluorescent lighting, or on a finicky step ladder to do … Read more The Best Work Belts for Various Types of Work or Occasions Posted: November 2, 2022 Belts are one of those fashion accessories that we take for granted but they can make or break our day. We use them to hold loose pants or shorts, yet … Read more More

The Best Knee Pads for Tiling to Protect Your Knees Posted: November 2, 2022 Tiling work is one of the most tedious tasks when it comes to home improvement projects. Workers would have to mix massive bags of grout and mortar. Then, they spend … Read more The Best Knee Pads for Roofing of 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 As a roofer, you are already aware of how arduous your job is. It requires you to deal with heavy lifting, climbing, bending and kneeling. It is because your job … Read more The Best Kneeling Pads for 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 If you are fond of gardening then you are probably aware that there are instances when this activity can cause discomfort. It is because while the whole hobby is fun, … Read more More

The Best Work Boots for Wide Feet Posted: November 2, 2022 Wearing good-fitting boots can reduce the risk of getting calluses, blisters, and other problems. However, walking into a safety footwear shop can be annoying, only to find that the brand … Read more The Best Work Boots for Women (Steel Toe, Composite Toe, Tactical and Other Boots) Posted: November 2, 2022 There is nothing that women cannot do! Falling objects, wet floors, chemical spillage, and open circuits are just some of the potential hazards at the job site. As you brave … Read more What Type of Footwear That Protects Your Entire Foot? Posted: June 2, 2022 Oftentimes we only care about the trendy look a pair of shoes can offer. But it is their protection properties that we should pay close attention to. You might be … Read more

Wearing good-fitting boots can reduce the risk of getting calluses, blisters, and other problems. However, walking into a safety footwear shop can be annoying, only to find that the brand … Read more

There is nothing that women cannot do! Falling objects, wet floors, chemical spillage, and open circuits are just some of the potential hazards at the job site. As you brave … Read more

Oftentimes we only care about the trendy look a pair of shoes can offer. But it is their protection properties that we should pay close attention to. You might be … Read more

The Best Hearing Protection for Woodworking in 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 A lot of audiologists agree that continuous exposure to the noise produced by the power tools used in woodworking is extremely hazardous to one’s hearing. This is the main reason … Read more The Best Hearing Protections for Lawn Mowing for 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 Did you know that anything over 85 dB (decibels) can cause severe damage to your ears when exposed to prolonged duration? In fact, studies suggest that sounds over 85 decibels … Read more The Best Hearing Protection for Construction of 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 Everyone who works in the construction industry is fully aware of how important it is to protect their eyes and head from possible injuries and vision damage. However, not all … Read more

A lot of audiologists agree that continuous exposure to the noise produced by the power tools used in woodworking is extremely hazardous to one’s hearing. This is the main reason … Read more

Did you know that anything over 85 dB (decibels) can cause severe damage to your ears when exposed to prolonged duration? In fact, studies suggest that sounds over 85 decibels … Read more

Everyone who works in the construction industry is fully aware of how important it is to protect their eyes and head from possible injuries and vision damage. However, not all … Read more

The Best Work Pants for Hot Weather (Lightweight & Breathable) Posted: November 2, 2022 Every workwear is vital because it promotes safety in the workplace. It helps workers go through brutal summer months on the job. And for that to happen, this article laid … Read more The Best Work Pants for Electricians for 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 Being an electrician is no easy task. You work day in and day out either under the hot sun or fluorescent lighting, or on a finicky step ladder to do … Read more The Best Work Belts for Various Types of Work or Occasions Posted: November 2, 2022 Belts are one of those fashion accessories that we take for granted but they can make or break our day. We use them to hold loose pants or shorts, yet … Read more

Every workwear is vital because it promotes safety in the workplace. It helps workers go through brutal summer months on the job. And for that to happen, this article laid … Read more

Being an electrician is no easy task. You work day in and day out either under the hot sun or fluorescent lighting, or on a finicky step ladder to do … Read more

Belts are one of those fashion accessories that we take for granted but they can make or break our day. We use them to hold loose pants or shorts, yet … Read more

The Best Knee Pads for Tiling to Protect Your Knees Posted: November 2, 2022 Tiling work is one of the most tedious tasks when it comes to home improvement projects. Workers would have to mix massive bags of grout and mortar. Then, they spend … Read more The Best Knee Pads for Roofing of 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 As a roofer, you are already aware of how arduous your job is. It requires you to deal with heavy lifting, climbing, bending and kneeling. It is because your job … Read more The Best Kneeling Pads for 2022 Posted: November 2, 2022 If you are fond of gardening then you are probably aware that there are instances when this activity can cause discomfort. It is because while the whole hobby is fun, … Read more

Tiling work is one of the most tedious tasks when it comes to home improvement projects. Workers would have to mix massive bags of grout and mortar. Then, they spend … Read more

As a roofer, you are already aware of how arduous your job is. It requires you to deal with heavy lifting, climbing, bending and kneeling. It is because your job … Read more

If you are fond of gardening then you are probably aware that there are instances when this activity can cause discomfort. It is because while the whole hobby is fun, … Read more

About    Contact    Privacy Policy    Disclaimer    Sitemap