Best Disposable Gloves for Food Handling

According to the FDA, washing your hands isn't enough to prevent the spread of illnesses when handling food, especially with ready-to-eat foods. By wearing gloves or using utensils, you can ensure your food and your customers remain safe. There are plenty of disposable food gloves on the market, but not all of them are ideal for every food applications. Factors such as glove material, powdering and colour can make a difference to how well-suited a glove is to your establishment.

That's why our experts have put together this guide of the best disposable food gloves on the market, with each one addressing a different need. Carrying on reading to find everything from the strongest food gloves to the safest for sensitive skin.

How Do I Know If A Glove Is Food Safe?

For a glove to be considered safe for use with food, it must adhere to certain guidelines. The gloves in this list for example, will be tested in accordance with either European standards EN 1186 or EC1935/2004. Both of these standards confirm that these gloves won't release any substances into food that could harm health. It is important to note that not all of the gloves in this guide are approved for contact with fatty foods as they may cause the gloves to degrade.

How Often Do I Need To Change My Gloves?

Disposable gloves should be changed regularly in any kitchen or food handling environment. This is especially true if you go from handling raw food to cooked food or from raw meat to another type of food. Additionally, you should always wash your hands before you put gloves on or take them off.

The Best All-Round Disposable Food Gloves

Aurelia Bold Disposable Black Nitrile Gloves

Our top pick for all-round best performing food gloves are the Aurelia Bold Disposable Black Nitrile Gloves. Made of nitrile, they are suitable for individuals with latex allergies but are also more robust than most vinyl gloves. The Aurelias are even stronger than standard nitrile gloves with a typical force break of 6 Newtons and can be used for rougher food preparation applications without tearing. Their sleek black design means they will go with most interiors and uniforms.

Key Features: Meets EN 1186 food approval standard; incredibly durable nitrile composition; sleek black design

The Best Food Gloves for Colour Coded Environments

Shield2 GD17 Green Powder-Free Vinyl Disposable Gloves

The Shield2 GD17 Green Powder-Free Vinyl Disposable Gloves meet the EC1935/2004 standard for safe food handling (except with fatty foods) and are also available in Red or Yellow. This is perfect for environments where colour coding is used to prevent cross-contamination, particularly between raw meat, fresh vegetables and other food groups. Made from vinyl, they are soft, dexterous and suitable for individuals with latex allergies.

Key Features: Meets the EC1935/2004 standard for food handling; soft and flexible vinyl composition; available in a Red and Yellow for colour coded settings

The Best Powdered Food Gloves

Polyco Bodyguards GL899 4 Blue Nitrile Powdered Disposable Gloves

While powder-free gloves can help prevent cross-contamination, some powdered gloves are specially formulated to be safe for contact with food. The Polyco Bodyguards GL899 4 Blue Nitrile Powdered Disposable Gloves are one such glove. Made from tough nitrile material, they are more resistant to tears and have a light powdering which helps to combat perspiration for better hygiene control when handling food.

Key Features: Meets EN 1186 food safe standard; lightly powdered for improved hygiene; tough nitrile material offers lower risk of tears

The Best Disposable Gloves for Sensitive Skin

Polyco Bodyguards GL621 Clear Vinyl Powder-Free Disposable Gloves

Certain materials and substances can cause irritations in some individuals, especially if the have sensitive skin. The Polyco Bodyguards GL621 Clear Vinyl Powder-Free Disposable Gloves are free from powder and latex, making them a great choice for such situations. Made from from flexible vinyl material, they feel soft against the skin and allow for a good level of dexterity. As they are free from latex, they can also be used by those with latex allergy.

Key Features: Meets EN 1186 standard for safe contact with food; made from soft, pliable vinyl material; free from powder or latex for sensitive skin

The Best Long Cuffed Disposable Food Gloves

Hand Safe GN830 Long Cuff Indigo Nitrile Gloves

Gloves with a long cuff can provide more extensive protection. This can be helpful if you are working with liquids or dough and want to ensure your wrists don't make contact with the food. The Hand Safe GN830 Long Cuff Indigo Nitrile Gloves meet the EC1935/2004 standard for food handling and are made from resilient nitrile material. Their bright indigo colour also improves their traceability for maximum food safety.

Key features: Meets EC1935/2004 standard for safe contact with food; long cuff extends protection to the wrists; bright indigo colour for maximum traceability

Safe, Easy Hygiene Maintenance

With this selection of disposable gloves, you can make sure the hygiene standards in your workplace are top-notch. Regardless of whether you're looking for powdered, non-powdered, colour-coded or extra-strong options, there's something here for you. 

Of course, while these disposable gloves provide fantastic hygienic protection, they don't offer much mechanical protection. If you or your employees tend to work with sharp utensils, you'd likely want a pair of gloves with some level of cut resistance. For this purpose, we recommend you purchase a box of disposable gloves and wear them over the Polyco Bladeshades Seamless Knitted Cut Resistant Glove. Supplied as a single glove, this can protect users' hands when they are handling knives and chopping ingredients.

Tags: Disposable Gloves, Our Glove Recommendations