BAKERSFIELD, CA -- A new state law is causing frustration for some food workers. It bans employees from touching food with their bare hands. Specifically, food that doesn't need to be cooked. The law requires employees to wear gloves or use utensils while handling ready-to-eat food. While health officials say it protects consumers, some workers affected by the new law say it a hassle.
Chef Kim Gong creates edible art, in the form of sushi, at Toro in southwest Bakersfield. He says wearing gloves makes it difficult to perfect his craft.
Gong said, "Making sushi is very sensitive. No gloves I find is better."
Health officials say the new law is an effort to improve consumer safety.
Chief Environmental Health Specialist Donna Fenton said, "Two-thirds of all foodborne illnesses are usually because of the employees health or hygiene."
Fenton says requiring hand washing isn't enough.
"Wearing gloves is that added layer of protection. So they wash their hands in addition to that, add the gloves. Now you have less of a chance that any of those germs would be transferred to the food," said Fenton.
Although he doesn't like wearing gloves, Gong says he is complying with the requirement.
Deli manager Kim Fannon says the law isn't anything new for Cafe Med employees.
Fannon said, "It's really just a reiteration of a policy that we already have in place, but it has just made us a little more aware that we need to adhere very closely to that policy."
The law went into effect at the beginning of the year. Health officials say warnings will be issued for the first six months. After that, not following the law will be considered a major health violation.
Fenton said, "Since we do grading in Kern County, if they do have a major violation like not wearing the gloves when they were supposed to, that would be a major violation, it may go against their grade."
The law also includes bartenders, handling garnishes. A petition on the website change.org asks legislators to consider excluding this group. As of Wednesday morning, there are more than 11,000 signatures supporting the request. Its goal is 15,000 signatures.
The page states that bartending is a visual experience and forcing them to wear glove will ruin the show.
While some groups are fighting the requirement, Fannon says they use utensils to comply with the law.
"They'll use just some small tongs. Typically they have things on picks so it's not a huge issue there. We probably won't use the gloves. It will be more of a utensil application," said Fannon.
Any complaints can be directed to the health department.
Chef Kim Gong creates edible art, in the form of sushi, at Toro in southwest Bakersfield. He says wearing gloves makes it difficult to perfect his craft.
Gong said, "Making sushi is very sensitive. No gloves I find is better."
Health officials say the new law is an effort to improve consumer safety.
Chief Environmental Health Specialist Donna Fenton said, "Two-thirds of all foodborne illnesses are usually because of the employees health or hygiene."
Fenton says requiring hand washing isn't enough.
"Wearing gloves is that added layer of protection. So they wash their hands in addition to that, add the gloves. Now you have less of a chance that any of those germs would be transferred to the food," said Fenton.
Although he doesn't like wearing gloves, Gong says he is complying with the requirement.
Deli manager Kim Fannon says the law isn't anything new for Cafe Med employees.
Fannon said, "It's really just a reiteration of a policy that we already have in place, but it has just made us a little more aware that we need to adhere very closely to that policy."
The law went into effect at the beginning of the year. Health officials say warnings will be issued for the first six months. After that, not following the law will be considered a major health violation.
Fenton said, "Since we do grading in Kern County, if they do have a major violation like not wearing the gloves when they were supposed to, that would be a major violation, it may go against their grade."
The law also includes bartenders, handling garnishes. A petition on the website change.org asks legislators to consider excluding this group. As of Wednesday morning, there are more than 11,000 signatures supporting the request. Its goal is 15,000 signatures.
The page states that bartending is a visual experience and forcing them to wear glove will ruin the show.
While some groups are fighting the requirement, Fannon says they use utensils to comply with the law.
"They'll use just some small tongs. Typically they have things on picks so it's not a huge issue there. We probably won't use the gloves. It will be more of a utensil application," said Fannon.
Any complaints can be directed to the health department.