PPE Products For Food Service Businesses

The American food industry is one of the largest in the country if not the world, topping 5.3 trillion USD in sales back in 2015. The large number of sales comes primarily from various types of products sold in drug stores, grocery stores, mass merchandisers, butcheries, canneries, food packaging etc. That’s why it stands to reason that the food and retail industry are amongst the most heavily regulated. Food is a serious product, and it is directly linked to public health as well as having economic consequences.

Personal Protection Equipment has been used in the food industry for decades before COVID-19. Things have not changed much since COVID-19, because the processes were designed to ensure that viruses and other contaminants didn’t make it into the food supply.

The Importance of PPE in the Food Processing Industry

Using Personal Protective Equipment in the food industry helps benefit many people, including employees working for the business, customers and even the products.

Benefit to Customers 

The American consumer trusts that their food is going to be safe, be of the best quality and clean. To ensure customer safety and to protect the brand’s reputation, many businesses in the industry ensure that their employees are wearing proper workwear regardless of where they may be in the food processing chain. The use of PPEs in this regard helps prevent the spread of deadly viruses like COVID-19 as well as contamination of other substances. Plus, it ensures that the products are hygienic and often pass stringent spot checks.

Benefit for Employees

According to the Bureau of Labor Statics, many different injuries can befall workers in the food processing industry. However, the most danger posed to these people is exposure to viruses, bacteria and germs, which can lead them to get sick. Wearing the right PPE helps protect them from contracting diseases and consequently spreading them.

Avoiding Contamination of Food Products

Wearing PPEs ensures that food products aren’t contaminated by salmonella, E. coli, Hepatitis and COVID-19. Plus when these products are protected and hygienic, they taste better, offer superior texture, and the overall quality is of the highest grade. All of these factors contribute to customers’ satisfaction which improves the brand’s reputation.

The Effectiveness of PPE

Businesses in the food processing industry will always want to choose PPEs that are of the best quality, disposable and yet tear-resistant. All of which ensures that the equipment offers the most protection. Many experts recommend disposable PPEs because they are more effective, given how they are used. Numerous studies over the years have shown that laundering fabric can wear it down, and that increases the risk of holes and tears which negates having them.

Here is what every person working in the food processing industry who has any contact with food should wear:

• Aprons – ideally disposable
• Smocks and gowns which can be with hoods or without them
• Boot covers and shoe covers
• Sleeve clovers

Conclusion

Businesses in the food processing industry already know just how essential PPEs are to their brand reputation. However, they need to be focusing now on their employees wearing high-quality PPEs more than ever before.