Can Food Handlers Wear Jewelry or Nail Polish?

Can food handlers wear jewelry or nail polish?

Only a plain band, like a wedding ring, stays on hands and arms. Watches, bracelets and rings with stones come off (FDA Food Code 2-303.11). Nails stay short and clean, with no polish or fake nails on open food unless intact gloves cover them (2-302.11). Hair goes under a hat or hairnet.

Hair, jewelry and long nails carry germs and can fall into food.

Is nail polish allowed?

Keep nails short, filed and clean. Scrub under them.
No nail polish or fake nails when working with open food, unless you wear intact gloves over them.

Sources: Food Code 2-302.11

Which jewelry has to come off?

Only a plain band (like a wedding ring) is allowed on hands and arms. Take off:

Rings with stones or engravings
Watches and smartwatches
Bracelets and fitness trackers
Medical alert bracelets (wear medical ID as a necklace instead)
Hand or wrist piercings

Take jewelry off before washing hands and keep it away from food.

Sources: Food Code 2-303.11

Do you need a hairnet or a beard net?

Wear a hat, cap, hairnet or head covering. Tie long hair back under it.
Wear a beard net if you have a beard or long mustache.
Put restraints on before you wash your hands.
Clips and pins go under the covering, not on top.
Don't touch your hair, beard or face in food areas. If you do, wash hands and change gloves.
Workers who only hand out drinks or wrapped food may be exempt.

Sources: Food Code 2-402.11

Can you drink at your station?

Wear clean outer clothes and a clean apron.
Eat, drink, smoke or vape only in a designated area (the break area), away from food and clean dishes.
The one exception: you may drink from a closed drink container (a lid and a straw is the easy way) if it is handled so it can't contaminate your hands, the container, food, clean dishes or single-service items. Keep it away from food and prep tables.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow, then wash your hands.
Take your apron off for the restroom and trash.
Never wipe your hands on your clothes or apron.

Sources: Food Code 2-304.11 · Food Code 2-401.11 · Food Code 6-403.11 · Food Code 2-401.12 · Source protocols: personal hygiene guide (apron off for restroom and trash)

The rules behind it

Personal hygiene. Short clean nails, no jewelry but a plain band, hair and beard restraints, clean outer clothing; eat, drink and use tobacco only in a designated area away from food (the one exception: a sip from a closed drink container, handled so it can't contaminate hands, the container, food, clean dishes or single-service items); a clean utensil for each taste of food that will be served, used only once. Food Code 2-302.11, 2-303.11, 2-304.11, 2-401.11, 2-402.11, 2-301.14, 3-301.12, 6-403.11; R392-102-14(4), (9)–(15); docs/source/research/hygiene-and-kits.md RW1-RW10