Which action requires a food handler to change gloves?

Changing gloves is essential for maintaining food safety and preventing cross-contamination. When a food handler is wearing gloves that have been torn, it compromises the integrity of the barrier between their hands and the food. Torn gloves can allow pathogens and contaminants, such as bacteria from raw food or allergens, to transfer to food or surfaces. Therefore, the food handler must change to ensure that the gloves are intact and capable of providing the necessary protection against contamination.

While preparing raw meat, switching tasks, or going on a break might also require changing gloves in specific contexts, these actions are not as directly related to an immediate loss of barrier function as wearing torn gloves. Each situation has its own protocols, but the necessity to change immediately when gloves are torn is a clear-cut practice that underscores the commitment to food safety standards.