What personal protective equipment should be worn when handling food?

Wearing gloves, aprons, and hairnets is essential when handling food to ensure safety and hygiene. Gloves act as a barrier to prevent the transfer of bacteria and other contaminants from hands to food, while aprons protect clothing and minimize the risk of spills or splashes that could affect the food and maintain cleanliness in the food preparation area. Hairnets are crucial for keeping hair contained, preventing loose hairs from falling into the food, which is a key factor in maintaining food safety standards.

The other options lack the comprehensive approach needed for proper food handling. Just using gloves and hats does not address the potential for contamination through clothing or hair. Long sleeves and jackets, while they may provide some level of protection, do not specifically address the main areas of food safety concerns, nor do they offer the practicality and hygiene that aprons and hairnets provide. Regular clothing without any protection significantly increases the risk of contaminating food, as it offers no barriers to spills or external contaminants.