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What Is a Sneeze Guard?

A sneeze guard is the shield placed over foods in restaurants, buffets and outdoor food booths, to protect food customers from viruses and bacteria spread by other food customers' sneezes and coughs.

  1. Food Safety

    • There are many requirements for food safety (and in turn, consumer safety) at various food establishments. There are cleanliness requirements, temperature requirements, ventilation requirements and specific requirements for specific occasions and types of food service, such as catering services.

      A main requirement for food and consumer safety is the sneeze guard, also known as a food shield.

    Why a Sneeze Guard

    • The sneeze guard is to protect food from coming into contact with droplets from a consumer's sneeze or cough, or talking and breathing.

      Sneezes, coughs and escaping droplets in breath are how viruses and bacteria are spread. A violent sneeze can release as many as 40,000 droplets at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour. The droplets can contain hundreds of thousands of viruses and bacteria, and when they land, the germs can live anywhere from hours to days. When the viruses or bacteria land on food, it becomes a way to spread infection.

    Sneeze Guard Protection

    • The sneeze guard is made to block and prevent droplets coming from a consumer's mouth. There are specific health regulations that are adopted by cities or counties, for the size and placement of sneeze guards.

      Sneeze guards are mounted to specific heights and angles over food trays and serving situations. There can be built-in lighting, but the critical measurements are to block droplets coming from an average consumer's mouth and nose.

      Size and angles will depend on the serving table height and width and whether a serving table is accessible by one side or both.

    Sneeze Guard Materials

    • Sneeze guard frames can be metal frames, such as stainless steel or brass, or plastic frames, especially for a portable sneeze guard situation. The frame material must be easy to clean and sanitize.

      Sneeze guard sections are made of tempered glass or clear plastic materials, such as Lexan. The edges are always rounded or enclosed in smooth and curved frames, so that edges are not ever a danger. The glass or plastic also must be easily cleaned and sanitized.

    Conclusion

    • Sneeze guards are a necessary food safety requirement in restaurants, buffets and anywhere food is self-served. They do prevent the spread of viruses and other contagious diseases that are transmitted by droplets in sneezes, coughs and breathing.

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