Fast food outlets like McDonald’s are often associated with the image of workers donning gloves to prevent cross-contamination. On the other hand, recent visitors to McDonald’s may have noted that not all workers wear gloves while handling food.
There might be worries about the hygiene and safety of the food supply. This essay will examine McDonald’s food safety measures and the rationale for workers’ inconsistent glove use.
Handwashing and Glove Usage Protocols
McDonald’s has rather stringent handwashing requirements for its personnel who deal with food. The transmission of germs and other pollutants may be greatly reduced if people practice good hand hygiene.
Before working with food, personnel must wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water. This is done every time a person changes roles, notably when moving from working with raw ingredients to serving finished dishes.
In addition, it is strongly recommended that workers use disposable gloves whenever they handle raw meat, poultry, or any other products that might potentially spread disease. Workers may not always need to wear gloves while preparing food since certain things, such as buns, lettuce, and pickles, are less likely to have hazardous germs.
Efficiency and Speed
Fast service is fundamental to McDonald’s business model. Food preparation times may increase if workers are required to wear gloves at all times.
Many McDonald’s menu items are not raw and only need minimum handling, therefore it may not be practicable to change gloves often. Instead, we’ll be concentrating on how to keep things moving smoothly even as we enforce rigorous handwashing policies.
Glove Usage Misconceptions
Gloves have a reputation for being cleaner than bare hands, however, this is a myth. Gloves may help keep hands clean, but only if they are periodically replaced and thrown away. Cross-contamination may occur if workers use the same gloves for too long or reuse the same gloves for different activities without changing them.
Changing gloves less often than handwashing is recommended, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Gloves are a useful barrier for some chores, but they shouldn’t be utilized in lieu of frequent handwashing.
Related: The Most Popular Fast Food Chain in Every State
Enhanced Training and Monitoring
McDonald’s puts its staff through rigorous training to guarantee they know how to keep the restaurant clean and the food safe to eat. Compliance with these standards is enforced by means of regular monitoring and inspections.
The organization places a premium on client safety, so if an employee is caught not washing their hands after using the restroom or not following other food safety requirements, they will be disciplined.
Reducing Environmental Impact
McDonald’s concern about the planet’s future is an additional factor in its strategy. Disposable gloves are not biodegradable, therefore widespread use of them would significantly increase plastic waste.
The firm is in line with its environmental aims and promotes other eco-friendly practices by reducing the number of times workers need to wear gloves.