Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine how often mobile food cart vendors in New York City (NYC) changed gloves after exchanging money, which is required by the current NYC health code as one of various measures to prevent foodborne illness. A total of 100 carts (10 carts in 10 zones) throughout Manhattan were observed. In the majority (56.9 %, n = 1,026) of the 1,804 money exchanges, food cart vendors did not change their gloves. Not changing gloves after exchanging money was widespread regardless of food type served (46.6 % for breakfast to 63.7 % for lunch), and across all 10 zones. Not changing gloves after touching money may result in indirect transmission of agents of disease and pose health risks for consumers.
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Basch, C.H., Guerra, L.A., MacDonald, Z. et al. Glove Changing Habits in Mobile Food Vendors in New York City. J Community Health 40, 699–701 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-014-9987-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-014-9987-7