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Food fixers not forced to glove up We love tacos, but after observing the employees at a loyal taco place dipping into the lettuce and other foods with their bare hands, I no longer can eat one. Isn't there a law that says food servers must wear protective gloves when handling food? Otherwise it appears very unsanitary. -- Betsy W., Medford Betsy, health officials say you generally don't have anything to fear from bare hands, provided they are washed thoroughly as required by state law. The law recommends but does not require gloves for food preparers. Gary Stevens, program manager for the county health department, says food preparers can use their bare hands but must wash them thoroughly before starting work and after rubbing their faces or touching their hair. They also are required to wash them twice after using the restroom, once in the restroom and once at the work station. "We try to promote the glove use," Stevens says. Though seeing gloves on food-preparation workers might make you feel better, they won't help if they aren't used properly. For instance, workers who don't change gloves when switching from raw meat to lettuce could pass along bacteria. Stevens says improperly used gloves offer less protection than well-washed hands. As a consumer, you can always raise your concerns about whether hand-washing rules are being properly followed with the restaurant manager or the health department. (Send your questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; or by fax to (541) 776-4376; or by e-mail to: [email protected] . Please include your name, address and phone number for verification.) Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA