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PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Food workers in Utah County will now longer be able to touch ready-to-eat foods with their bare hands.
Yesterday, the Utah County Board of Health passed a regulation prohibiting it.
The previous regulation required businesses to minimize the amount of bare-handed contact with ready-to-eat food but did NOT forbid it.
Gloves, tongs, spatulas, deli tissue or other methods will now be required for workers handling food that is served directly to customers.
Health Department Program Manager Jay Stone says a study done says point-01 percent of bacteria will get onto food with glove use, versus 10-percent without.
Stone said although glove use does not prevent all contamination, it's an effective safety measure.
The new policy will go into effect immediately.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
