Chefs, bartenders make final pitch to repeal glove law

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGO) -- Chefs and bartenders made a final pitch on Wednesday to repeal a law requiring food workers to wear gloves.

The so-called "glove law" took effect in Jan. And already, it could be overturned.

The law requires food workers to wear disposable gloves while handling ready to eat foods like fresh fruit and bread.

Chefs and bartenders say the gloves are clumsy, wasteful, and even unsanitary.

An Assembly health committee already voted to overturn the law. On Wednesday, Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, came out to urge a repeal.

"Issues arose around the fact that people would be, could be wearing gloves and still transmitting from dirty surfaces to clean surfaces," he said. "Just wearing gloves does not solely solve that problem."

The legislature is now considering a less restrictive law. It would require workers to minimize handling of raw foods with their bare hands.