The regulation of personal adornment for food handlers is a mandatory standard designed to ensure public health and prevent the contamination of food products. These rules establish limits on jewelry to maintain high hygiene standards throughout the preparation and service process. The restrictions address potential physical and biological hazards that jewelry can introduce into the food supply.
Why Jewelry Restrictions Exist
Jewelry restrictions exist primarily to prevent physical hazards and control microbial contamination. Jewelry worn on the hands or arms poses a physical hazard because it can break or fall into the food, acting as a foreign material contaminant. This risk can lead to consumer injury and is a common cause for food recalls.
Jewelry also presents a significant risk of biological contamination by harboring bacteria and pathogens. Items like rings and watches create complex surfaces and crevices where food particles and microorganisms become trapped. These surfaces make thorough handwashing difficult, allowing germs to accumulate and transfer to food.
Prohibited Jewelry Items
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code serves as the model for most state and local regulations regarding prohibited jewelry. Items worn on the hands or wrists are generally disallowed because they interfere with proper hygiene and increase contamination risk. This prohibition includes all watches, bracelets, and rings with stones or settings.
These items are banned because intricate designs, such as stone prongs or engraved surfaces, prevent effective cleaning and sanitization. Necklaces are also generally prohibited, even if worn beneath clothing, as they can contact food or become entangled in equipment. Medical identification bracelets are technically prohibited on the wrist, but accommodations often allow them to be secured elsewhere, such as taped down securely or worn around the neck.
Allowable Hand and Finger Jewelry
The FDA Food Code provides a single, narrow exception to the hand and finger jewelry prohibition: a plain, smooth band ring. This exception is typically intended to accommodate a wedding band, provided it has no stones, grooves, or intricate designs that could harbor bacteria. The simple, non-porous structure of a plain metal band allows for effective cleaning and does not interfere with the wearing of single-use gloves.
This plain band is the only piece of jewelry permitted on the hands or arms of a food handler actively preparing food. Note that some jurisdictions or specific employer policies prohibit all hand jewelry completely. Any ring with a setting or decorative etching is considered non-compliant and must be removed before work begins.
Rules for Body and Facial Piercings
Ear Piercings
Rules concerning piercings not on the hands or arms, such as those on the ears, face, and mouth, are varied and often subject to workplace discretion. Dangling earrings are universally prohibited, as they pose a high risk of falling into food or becoming snagged on equipment. Small, secure stud-type earrings that sit flush against the earlobe are often permitted because they are less likely to fall out and do not interfere with food contact.
Facial Piercings
Facial piercings, including those on the nose or lip, are technically allowed under the Food Code but are highly regulated by employers. The primary concern is the risk of the jewelry falling out and becoming a physical contaminant in the food. For this reason, many operations require the removal of facial jewelry or the substitution of the item with a clear, smooth, and secure retainer that cannot be dislodged.
Oral Piercings
Oral piercings, such as tongue bars, are generally permitted as they are internal and do not come into direct contact with food. However, any tongue or lip jewelry that has a loose component or is deemed likely to cause injury if swallowed may be restricted by an employer’s policy. The safest practice is to ensure any allowed piercing is completely secure and smooth to prevent it from becoming a physical hazard.
Understanding Local and Employer Policies
The FDA Food Code establishes a baseline for food safety, but it is a model, not a federal law enforced nationwide. State and local health departments adopt and often modify this model, resulting in stricter rules than the baseline recommendations. A food handler must follow the most restrictive rule that applies, whether it comes from the local health jurisdiction or the specific company policy.
Many large food service operations implement internal policies that prohibit items the FDA technically allows, such as all earrings or even the plain wedding band. Non-compliance can lead to health inspection violations and fines for the establishment. For the employee, failing to adhere to the applicable jewelry policy can lead to warnings, removal from food preparation duties, or termination of employment.