Eliminating Contamination with Verified Clean Gloves

Company: Freya Farm
Industry: Cultivation and production
Location: Washington, US
Focus: Identify & eliminate product contamination introduced by processing tools

 

Why Eagle's Glove Analysis?

A range of Eagle gloves are third-party tested to ensure they are clean, safe and of high quality.

Eagle products are single-sourced to guarantee manufacturing consistency - meaning you get the same product every time, without variation in raw materials, formulation, or manufacturing conditions.

This consistency is critical for businesses whose products must meet strict testing and cleanliness standards.

 

Problem:

Freya Farm is a cannabis producer and processor in Washington. They are deeply committed to organic cultivation practices, growing high-grade and unique strains where product purity is essential.

Following a cannabis recall triggered by product testing positive for the antimicrobial chemical o-Phenylphenol, the Freya Farm team undertook comprehensive testing of all materials that had come into contact with the affected product. After eliminating packaging, surfaces, and equipment, their single-use “food safe” gloves were tested as a last resort.

The gloves were confirmed as the source of contamination.

“Nothing ruins your day like testing your product, confident it will be clean, only to find it contaminated with some crazy, toxic chemical. The gloves were the last thing we tested—we just never imagined something sold as food-safe could transfer such nastiness. The discovery was just the beginning. Recalls are costly in more ways than one.”
— Freya Farm

Handling products with contaminated gloves can transfer toxic compounds directly to the product—resulting in recalls, financial loss, and significant reputational damage.

 

Why Gloves Can Contaminate Products:

Although the gloves were FDA food compliant, glove factories supplying the U.S. food and cultivation industries are not subject to rigorous ongoing FDA monitoring once initial compliance is achieved. FDA food compliance is point-in-time and does not require continued verification of:

• Raw material consistency
• Manufacturing process controls
• Cleanliness standards
• Chemical residue risks

This regulatory gap creates an opportunity for manufacturers to reduce costs by substituting cheaper raw materials or altering formulations—often without buyers’ knowledge. These changes can reduce glove durability and introduce harmful chemical compounds capable of transferring to products and users.

The New Zealand market operates under a similar compliance framework, meaning the same risks apply.

The compound responsible for Freya Farm’s recall, o-Phenylphenol, is listed by the OEHHAA as a chemical known to cause cancer. It was unknowingly transferred to product through the use of contaminated FDA food compliant disposable gloves.

 

Risks Of Single-use Glove Contamination To The Industry:

 

• Cost of recalled products and destroyed inventory
• Brand reputation damage and loss of consumer trust
• Regulatory scrutiny and increased testing requirements
• Possible dermal absorption of toxins by staff wearing gloves for extended periods (8+ hours per day)
• Occupational health risks, including exposure to compounds linked to cancer, reproductive, and hormonal harm

Peer-reviewed scientific studies have repeatedly identified harmful toxins and contaminants in disposable gloves, making this a documented and ongoing industry risk—particularly for organic, clean-label, and premium product producers.

Mitigate The Risk Of Recalls:

Freya Farm immediately eliminated the contaminated glove issue by sourcing Eagle FineTOUGH and Sensitive nitrile gloves.

Eagle Protect’s proprietary third-party glove analysis, Delta Zero™, ensures a range of Eagle gloves are truly food safe and won’t contaminate products being handled. The analysis tests for:

• Cleanliness (microbial & fungal contaminants)
• Chemicals & toxins
• Durability & cross-contamination potential

Manufacturing consistency is essential to maintaining glove performance over time. Eagle gloves are single-sourced and independently verified to ensure batch-to-batch reliability—reducing the risk of unknown substitutions, counterfeit products, or compromised materials entering the supply chain.

 

Conclusion:

Purchasing disposable gloves of unknown origin or unverifiable quality represents a significant and often overlooked business risk. Product recalls are costly—not only financially, but in long-term brand trust, operational disruption, and consumer confidence.

For businesses operating in regulated or purity-sensitive industries, relying solely on food-grade compliance is not enough. Ongoing verification, manufacturing consistency, and independent testing are critical to mitigating contamination risk.

The cost of a product recall is too high!

Does this case study resonate with your business? 
Request a call with an Eagle Protect food safety disposable glove expert today!