Chefs, Bartenders Showing No Love For New Glove Law

PICO-ROBERTSON (CBSLA.com) — Chefs and bartenders say a new state law requiring them to wear disposable gloves during all phases of food preparation is hurting their bottom line and can be dangerous.

But on Monday, a state lawmaker is expected to introduce a bill in Sacramento to stop the enforcement of the law.

Sushi restaurants are among the places most affected by the food safety law, which went into effect at the beginning of this year.

"It's about putting life into a piece of sushi. You want to be able to feel the rice. Control the texture. But with gloves, it's kind of hard to," one chef told CBS2's Bobby Kaple.

The requirement to wear gloves also extends to bartenders who put any sort of food or vegetable in a cocktail.

"I think it's really silly. And bartenders wearing gloves, that's really stupid," said one customer.

Another customer said, "I think I'm anti-wearing gloves. I really am 'cause they have to wash their hands, right?"

"What we would like to see happen is to put a smarter bill together," said Alex Reznik, who owns Ditmas Kitchen in Los Angeles.