What is the purpose of wearing gloves while handling food?

Wearing gloves while handling food is primarily intended to prevent food from becoming contaminated. When food handlers wear gloves, they serve as a barrier between their hands and the food, minimizing the risk of transferring bacteria, viruses, and other harmful contaminants from their skin to the food. This is crucial in maintaining food safety and preventing foodborne illnesses, which can arise from improper handling practices.

While gloves might also offer some benefits such as enhancing grip or keeping hands warm, these are secondary to their main function of protection against contamination. Reducing cooking time is not related to glove usage at all. Therefore, the core responsibility of wearing gloves is to ensure the food remains safe for consumption by preventing cross-contamination.