Scibak, Easthampton resident push for ban on latex gloves
BOSTON - A bill aimed at protecting consumers and workers allergic to latex would ban the use of latex gloves by food workers in all aspects of food production in the state.
The bill would make Massachusetts the fourth state in the nation to prohibit latex rubber gloves in food handling. Arizona, Oregon and Rhode Island already ban the use of these gloves.
''Latex gloves have been used by workers in virtually all sectors of our economy,'' said Nancy DiRocco, an Easthampton resident who initially asked state Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley, to look at the issue. She has worked closely with him to file the pending legislation.
A nurse at Cooley Dickinson Hospital for over 20 years, DiRocco says she knows well the dangerous effects of prolonged exposure to these gloves.
''I became deathly allergic to latex and know firsthand what inadvertent exposure can mean when you've eaten a food product that was prepared, at retail or in processing, by someone using latex gloves,'' she said.
For those with latex sensitivities, exposure can trigger allergic reactions as acute as breathing difficulties or anaphylactic shock.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, latex allergies have become a growing problem, as more and more workers have had prolonged exposure to latex gloves in the workplace.
The DPH cites studies that suggest that 10 percent of health care workers have developed sensitivities to latex. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has estimated that 1 percent of the general population has this sensitivity.
Other organizations such as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, estimate the number to be as high as 6 percent of all Americans.
Recognizing the dangers of this exposure, the DPH already recommends that latex gloves not be used in food establishments. The DPH policies govern the food safety standards that food handlers in retail establishments must abide by.
Scibak and DiRocco say they think the guidelines don't go far enough to protect consumers.
''When you have a latex reaction, it doesn't matter at what point the food was exposed to latex. It could be at the food processor or it could be at the restaurant. The result to you is the same - a trip to the nearest emergency room,'' DiRocco said.
Scibak said the bill he is co-sponsoring would give unsuspecting consumers the same protection people get with food-labeling requirements.
''Consumers with latex allergies who go to a restaurant have no idea whether the kitchen staff that prepared their food or filled the salad bar used latex or non-latex gloves,'' he said. ''By the time they take that first bite, it may be too late.''
DiRocco said she is hopeful the bill can make it through the legislative process and recites a long list of supporters, including the Massachusetts Restaurant Association.
''Retailers Subway, Big Y supermarkets, McDonald's, Wendy's and Olive Garden all have internal policies that prohibit latex gloves. Why can't we do the same thing here in Massachusetts for all consumers?'' she asked.
Scibak said that previous obstacles to this legislation, such as the cost of non-latex gloves made of vinyl or other synthetic materials, should no longer be a factor. ''Non-latex alternatives have become readily available, often at a lower cost than latex,'' he says.
The bill, introduced in January 2005, was referred to the Public Health committee. The committee held hearings on the bill last May.
Jim Bildner reports for the Gazette from the Boston University Statehouse program.