California Bill Would Amend Silly "No Bare Hands Can Touch Ready to Eat Food" Rule

Southern California Public Radio reports on some possible sense coming down the pike regarding a new California law barring bare hands from touching ready-to-eat foods:

Assemblyman Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), chair of the Assembly Health Committee, said AB 2130 would replace the language in the state health code that took effect Jan. 1st that barred sushi chefs, bartenders and others from handling ready-to-eat foods with their bare hands.

Pan's bill would permit some bare hand contact, stipulating that preparers must "minimize bare hand and arm contact." The chef or bartender would also need to wash his hands in accordance with current state health regulations….

I blogged about this rule, especially how it enraged serious sushi chefs, last month.

A Reason TV video on the matter,which makes the point that no compelling public health problem connected to food preparers bare hands has been demonstrated: