Arizona, R.I. move against latex gloves in food handling

WASHINGTON (June 11)—Two states have moved to ban natural rubber latex gloves in the food industry. The Arizona Department of Health Services' new food safety code, which goes into effect Oct. 3, requires the use of non-latex gloves or utensils when handling ready-to-eat food. Meanwhile, both houses of the Rhode Island legislature have passed a law banning latex gloves in the food industry. Rhode Island Governor Lincoln C. Almond has not yet signed the bill into law. Sheldon Whiteside, Rhode Island attorney general, whose son is allergic to latex, submitted the bill to the legislature.