Do all food service employees have to wear a hair net?
No. The Food Code requires all employees who work with unpackaged food, clean equipment or utensils, or food contact surfaces to wear hair restraints that keep their hair from contacting exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens,; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles and prevent the employee from needing to touch their hair to keep it out of their face. Head coverings worn correctly, such as hair nets, hats, caps, or scarves, can accomplish this requirement. Food employees who only serve beverages and plated, wrapped or packaged foods, such as bartenders, are not required to wear a hair restraint as long as their hair does not contact exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles.


