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Comments for Latex Allergies Rising in Restaurants
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None of this is nonsense if you were the one who had it. I hope God gives you perspective and a heart for those of us who cant touch or breath around anything latex. Try to have sympathy for others!!
I worked in a hospital that used nitril gloves because of the epidemic latex allergies developing, especially in people with multiple surgeries/doctors and nurses who are constantly exposed to latex. If nitril gloves are acceptable in a hospital I'm sure they are just fine for the food service industry. I am highly allergic to latex (anaphylactic),I rarely eat out and cannot go shopping because of the latex balloons everywhere. I don't ask for sympathy or special treatment but if latex were banned in the food industry, that's one place I'd be comfortable in. I wouldn't have to worry about dying if I chose to eat out. Those of you saying that people should stay home because of allergies, just put yourselves in our shoes for a minute, how would you like to be confined to your house with special shoes, clothes, a mask to go outside...? My allergy isn't quite that severe but I know of people who's are. I'm just saying, banning latex gloves really has not ill effect on anyone. Continued use of them however, is harmful to those with allergies to it, and could cause others to develop the allergy through continued use. Try not to be so judgmental please.
I developed latex allergy at work from wearing latex gloves. It started off as a mild nuisance and became severe after repeated occupational exposures to natural rubber latex. There are nurses, dentists, day care workers, police officers, balloon artists, etc disabled by latex allergy. For many years, I was bed ridden on and off; for weeks at a time. It took years for me to be able to work again. I often have reactions working requiring emergency medical assistance or emergency medicines like epipens and steroids. But I must eat! Those who scoff at latex allergy might hate to deal with workers compensation insurance that delays paying for court ordered medicines,reimbursements or disability pay. People like me have lost homes, marriages, careers, etc due to latex allergy and these delays. I have had to lose major organs, teeth, etc due to latex exposure or having to wait for a doctor/dentist/hospital willing and able to give the medical care needed. Many other allergies and sensitivities built off the latex allergy, especially when working around latex gloves. Latex allergy is preventable. Who wants the corn starch (used to don latex gloves easier) or the latex proteins that adhere to the corn starch, on their food? I and many others have had severe anaphylactic reactions to food that has been touched by latex gloves. These reactions are rarely documented even when reported. There has been conclusive evidence of such reactions, but big companies don't want it known. Vinyl gloves are much safer and leave less residue on the food. Nitrile gloves hold up better for chemical use, including for cleaning. Even so called powder free latex gloves can have cornstarch powder on them to which the latex adheres and becomes airborne. There is no law last I read as to how much powder can be in a glove before it can be called "powder free".
Reading all these posts just go to show people's lack of understanding. As someone who has had 19 anaphylactic shocks to latex I can promise you it's not something to be taken lightly. In the UK, Under the government's COSHH system, Latex is declared as a hazardous substance to health!!! It's quite easy to swap out latex for Nitrile or Vinyl and they will still provide a barrier and protect customer's health.
First of all, there is no conclusive evidence that any latex allergic reaction has occurred through food ingestion from latex gloves in food handling. In other words, the author is proposing a widespread ban when there is a lack of scientific data proving any risk. On the other hand, substantial evidence does exist that latex provides better barrier protection than other glove alternatives. We do know that 100 percent of people in restaurants are vulnerable to harmful infections. So do we really want to increase our likelihood of contracting harmful infections by eliminating the use of the food handling glove that provides the best protection?
Lets not forget condoms, my guess would be that they are the 1st latex experience most young people have. Personally, I used condoms long before I ever touched a pair of latex gloves.
It's a reasonable accommodation, Dan.
Latex balloons and latex gloves are also prohibited in the Bellingham Public Library.
Latex gloves were never intended for restaurant use but medical use. There are alternatives to latex that are just as effective in food borne illness protection without placing the customer at risk and the staff.
Bellingham Massachusetts has successfully passed a ban on latex gloves in all food establishments. As you stated, the Massachusett Board of Health request no latex gloves be used in restaurants as does The National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health, FDA and OSHA.
Actually, I do stay home and cook and enjoy it.Latex is an allergen just like peanuts.Restaurants are accomodating of peanut allergies, shrimp and other food allergies by not allowing these items to come into contact with people's food. But if a restaurant employee uses latex gloves the proteins adheres to the food. Employees using latex gloves have a risk of developing a latex allergy for which there is no cure. So using an alternative is simple and it prevents any problems.
I think the risks of not wearing latex gloves in a food enviroment outweigh the risks of wearing them for the customers. I personally think it should be a law all food service workers wear them.
Latex gloves are not banned in restaurants in Massachusetts. However, the Massachusetts Board of Health does recommend they not be used.
just because you have an alergy to something does not give you the right to change everybody else........i work in a restaurant and people come in alergic to all kinds of things.........stay home and cook
Not all people are allergic to latex but anyone has the potential to develop the allergy. Latex gloves being used on a daily basis is why most nurses, doctors and healthcare staff have developed latex allergies. People who deny this to be a problem do not understand the physiology of the allergy. New reports state there are 16 million people with a latex allergy. People who do not suffer from any allergy we that do would not expect you to understand until you too develop some sort of an allergy.