What kind of gloves should I use?

Disposable gloves explained:

Ever wondered
- which gloves should I use for food prep?
- which types of glove are food-safe?
- will disposable gloves melt when exposed to cooking heat?
- what's the difference between latex, nitrile, vinyl, TPE, CPE, PE gloves?
Wonder no more!

Latex
Latex gloves used to be the most popular gloves in healthcare, but growing concerns about latex allergies have boosted nitrile's popularity as an alternative. Some states, like Arizona and California, have banned the use of latex gloves in the foodservice industry. Illinois has also banned latex gloves in hospital settings.

Nitrile
Nitrile gloves are form fitting, comparable to latex in this regard. They are widely applicable - they can be used for cooking, plating, cutting, medical examination, and mechanic work. Nitrile gloves are fairly resistant to cuts, and offer protection from fluids, oils, and heat (up to 250F for longer periods). Nitrile is resistant to a wide range of chemicals, including fats, oils, and most acids.

Vinyl (PVC)
Vinyl gloves are form fitting, but less so than nitrile and latex. They can be used for cooking, plating, cleaning, cutting, and low-risk medical examination. They offer less puncture and chemical-resistance than nitrile, but they are cheaper. They can resist heat up to 150F for longer periods.

TPE
TPE gloves are less form-fitting and cut-resistant than vinyl, and cheaper. They can be used for plating, cleaning, and cooking. This type of glove is ideal for use in restaurant kitchens where workers are not doing cutting work. They can withstand temperatures of 200F for longer periods.

CPE
TPE gloves are less form-fitting and cut-resistant than TPE, and cheaper. TPE gloves are less form-fitting and cut-resistant than vinyl, and cheaper. They can be used for plating, cleaning, and cooking. This type of glove is ideal for use in restaurant kitchens where workers are not doing cutting work. They can withstand temperatures of 200F for longer periods.

LDPE/HDPE
These gloves have a similar look and feel to CPE gloves. They are cheaper than CPE gloves, but they offer less cut and chemical resistance. They can be used for plating, cleaning, and cooking. This type of glove is ideal for use in restaurant kitchens where workers are not doing cutting work. They can withstand temperatures of 200F for longer periods.


Feel free to ask us if you're concerned about a specific use case or resistance to a specific chemical!
infous@meiseicorp.co.jp