California’s short-lived law requiring food service workers to wear disposable gloves or use utensils when handling ready-to-eat food is about to be repealed and a less-restrictive law put in its place. The California Senate voted 32-0 on Thursday to approve AB-2130, the legislation repealing the so-called “glove law,” which had just gone into effect on Jan. 1. The California State Assembly already passed a repeal this spring. The bill is now on its way to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature. Although 41 states have “no-bare-hands” food code rules to help reduce the transmission of foodborne or other illnesses, members of the California restaurant and bar industry objected to the new law because they found it confusing, ineffective, cumbersome and expensive. California Assemblyman Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), a pediatrician who sponsored both the original law and the repeal legislation, said he wants to focus on food safety but also be responsive to food service workers’ concerns. “It’s not about whether you wear gloves or not,” Pan reportedly said. “It’s about how clean the surfaces (touching food) are. We need to have the conversation go back to, ‘This is about food safety.’” The state’s food safety code will now revert to earlier language encouraging workers to “minimize” any direct contact with food using their bare hands. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infected food service workers touching food with their bare hands is a common way to transmit Norovirus and other illnesses.
The News Desk team at Food Safety News covers breaking developments, regulatory updates, recalls, and key topics shaping food safety today. These articles are produced collaboratively by our editorial staff.
In the wake of Cyclospora outbreaks this summer, the FDA has drafted a 10-point plan to mitigate and prevent future outbreaks.
The largest of the outbreaks this summer sickened
As part of its enforcement activities, the Food and Drug Administration sends warning letters to entities under its jurisdiction. Some letters are not posted for public view until weeks or
Cryptosporidium has been removed from a list of communicable diseases subject to epidemiological surveillance in Europe.
According to the European Commission, Cryptosporidiosis is a common but predominantly mild gastrointestinal infection
Health representatives from the Americas have approved an updated strategy to improve food safety systems and reduce foodborne diseases.
Foodborne infections cause about 78,000 deaths in the region each
Stewart’s Shops Corp. of Saratoga Springs, NY is recalling two flavors, Heavenly Medley and Vanilla-Chocolate-Strawberry, of half-gallon ice cream because of the potential presence of metal.
WinCo Foods of Boise, ID, is recalling the following Salsa Bean Dip Trays because of the inclusion of recalled peperoncini from G.L. Mezzetta.
* WinCo Foods Salsa Bean Dip Tray,
EAK Distribution of Casper, WY, is recalling Home Grown Green Sprouting Calabrese Broccoli Seeds, Heirloom, in 8-ounce packages because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
Home
