Artificial Nails and Food Work – Can You Work in a Kitchen with Fake Nails?
The exact wording in Finnish legislation states:
“Unpacked perishable food may not be handled by a person who has an infected wound, artificial nails, a piercing, or other jewelry, if these cannot be covered with protective clothing.”
In practice, this means that artificial nails are not outright prohibited by law – but they are only allowed if they can be fully and safely covered, for example, with protective gloves.
Why Can Artificial Nails Be a Problem?
Artificial nails can create hygiene challenges in several ways:
- They can break or chip, potentially contaminating food with debris.
- Dirt and microbes can accumulate underneath them, and normal handwashing may not remove them effectively.
- If artificial nails are long or sharp, they may tear disposable gloves, making them unsuitable for food work.
If artificial nails prevent the safe use of protective gloves, the employee cannot handle unpackaged perishable food, such as raw meat, dairy products, salads, or ready-to-eat meals.
How Does the Employer Assess the Situation?
It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that all food handlers work hygienically. In practice, this often means that employees are required to:
- Keep short, natural nails
- Avoid artificial nails unless glove integrity can be guaranteed
- Maintain proper hand hygiene through regular washing and glove use
- Many workplaces ban artificial nails entirely because assessing the risks and monitoring individual cases can be difficult.
Can You Do Any Food Work with Artificial Nails?
Yes – in some cases. If the job does not involve handling unpackaged perishable foods, and the employee does not touch food directly (for example, uses utensils or handles only packaged goods), artificial nails may be permitted. Even then, it must be ensured that:
- Hand hygiene is maintained
- The work does not pose a risk to food safety
- Gloves remain intact despite the nails
Responsibility Is Individual – But Safety Is Shared
Even though artificial nails are not strictly prohibited by law, they are not recommended in most food handling roles. Safe food handling requires clean hands, intact protective gloves, and a proactive sense of responsibility. Artificial nails may prevent compliance with hygiene standards and therefore limit your ability to work in certain roles.
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