Disposable Glove Food Safety Education
September is National Food Safety Month, a time to highlight the best practices that protect our food, our families, and our communities. In Aotearoa, New Zealand, despite our robust food safety systems, foodborne illness remains a concern.
According to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Environmental Science and Research (ESR)*, common foodborne pathogens such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, STEC (Shiga-toxin producing E. coli), and Listeria continued to be the most frequently reported infections, particularly impacting young children and the elderly.
*As of 1 July 2025, the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) is the new name for the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).
Gloves: A Critical Safeguard That’s Too Often Overlooked
While strict hand hygiene protocols are essential in food handling and processing, disposable gloves, often the final point of contact with food, can be an overlooked risk by food safety programs and procurement teams.
Recent peer-reviewed research revealed that FDA-compliant food-grade gloves were found to be contaminated with pathogens, containing toxic compounds, and showed significant physical defects. This poses major risks to both consumers and brands and was found responsible for a product recall.
That’s why Eagle Protect is on a mission to change the way gloves are sourced, selected, and used in the food & beverage industries.
A Glove Is Not Just A Glove
“A glove should never be an afterthought,” says Steve Ardagh, Eagle Protect’s CEO & Founder. “We must consider where it comes from, how it's made, and whether it's truly safe for food handling.”
With years of research and support from leading microbiologists, Eagle Protect developed the Delta Zero™ verification program, a third-party testing process for:
- Toxic chemicals
- Microbial contamination
- Durability and performance
The result? Gloves that are consistently high quality, clean and proven safer, supporting food safety programs while protecting worker and consumer health.
Join The Movement For Safer Gloves
Eagle Protect is proud to be New Zealand’s founding Certified B Corporation®. Through ethical sourcing, strict testing, and a relentless commitment to safety, we're helping raise food protection standards, one glove at a time.
Want to learn more? Explore our Global Glove Safety Day campaign, happening on September 18.
Want To Improve Glove Safety?
Start with our Best Practices for Glove Safety for best practices on selection, use, and maintenance. Need tailored advice? Talk to our experts about the best PPE for your food safety goals or view our product range to get started.
