Nearly 200 food service establishments in town are now operating without one product: Latex gloves.

Under a bylaw recently passed by the Board of Health, workers are prohibited from using gloves made of latex, a common allergen. Bellingham is believed to be the first community in the state to enact such a bylaw.

Board of Health Chairman Vincent Forte Jr., said latex allergies affect a "significant population."

The bylaw, which passed unanimously at a June 24 meeting, was modeled after a drafted state law, which is currently being considered by the Legislature.

Board of Health member Guy Fleuette said about 175 vendors in town are affected by the change. Though the board advertised the public hearing, the bylaw passed without any discussion or attendance at the meeting.

 

With support from Health Agent Michael Graf, the board said it passed the law to protect residents.

"Natural latex rubber is something we can do without," Graf said.

Increased knowledge of the allergen has caused a few food service establishments to continue to use latex products, he said.

At Outback Steakhouse on North Main Street, manager Mike Steinberg said the new bylaw will not affect kitchen workers, who have been wearing vinyl gloves for "quite some time."

"We have stopped using (latex gloves) previously," Steinberg said last week, explaining the restaurant is concerned about the high risk of allergic reactions among patrons.

Graf, who inspects almost every restaurant in town, said synthetics are "cheaper and pull on easier."

A worker from the Food Regulations Division within the Department of Public Health confirmed last week that "to their knowledge, Bellingham is the only community that adopted such a bylaw."

Fleuette said "hopefully other communities will follow suit."

Currently, a state regulation advises establishments against the use of latex rubber gloves in food production.

A local legislator is behind a statewide law to make the use of latex gloves illegal.

State Rep. Jennifer Callahan, D-Sutton, has co-sponsored a bill to spread the ban throughout Massachusetts.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley, is being considered by the Legislature. It is currently before the House Ways and Means Committee, a spokeswoman for Callahan's office said.

Scibak has also filed legislation to ban the use of latex gloves in health care facilities.

Under the state law, anyone found using latex gloves in a food service establishment could face a $500 penalty, the bill reads.

Callahan, who serves on the House Committee on Public Health, said she stands behind the board's decision to outlaw latex gloves.

"Making reasonable accommodations to help mitigate control or exposure by persons with latex allergies is a goal local and state policy makers should work toward," Callahan wrote in a letter to the Board of Health.

Callahan said there are many dangers accompanied with latex allergies, including skin redness, hives and itching in mild cases.

Prolonged exposure to latex can lead to anaphylactic shock, resulting in a sudden loss of blood pressure, she explained. Death can result if a person does not receive proper medical attention.

"The only way to ensure complete protection in those (who are) allergic is to prevent all possible exposure to latex," Callahan said.