Workwear for the food industry
Garments that meet hygiene requirements, with certified laundering, regular inspection and replacement. You do not have to buy them, wash them or keep track of when a garment needs replacing.
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Home › Industries › Workwear for the food industry
We work with food production, processing and packaging companies from 20 employees upwards
Clean garments in a food area are not a recommendation – they are a requirement
In food handling areas, garments are part of the hygiene system. What matters is not only what you bought, but whether you can demonstrate how it is cared for.
Regulation (EC) 852/2004
Suitable clean clothing must be worn in a food handling area. That is the employer’s duty.
What an inspection checks
Not the type of garment, but its condition: is it clean, is it worn out, can the laundering be evidenced.
Who is accountable
Accountability sits with the food business – not the employee and not the supplier.
Not sure which requirements apply to your areas?
Call us or send an enquiry – we will help you work it out, with no obligation.
Garment lines for the food industry
Hygiene line – maximum hygiene for the highest-risk areas
Designed for the highest-risk areas where hygiene is the absolute priority. Light, breathable fabrics, concealed fastenings and minimal seams reduce the risk of contamination and make cleaning easier.
Jacket
- ✓65% polyester, 35% cotton
- ✓210 g/m²
- ✓Sizes 46–62
- ✓Press-stud fastening, inside pocket
T-shirt
- ✓50% polyester, 50% cotton
- ✓190 g/m²
- ✓Sizes XS–4XL
- ✓Combed cotton, double stitching
Unisex trousers
- ✓65% polyester, 35% cotton
- ✓210 g/m²
- ✓Sizes 40–72
- ✓Wide elasticated waist, no pockets
Tunic
- ✓65% polyester, 35% cotton
- ✓210 g/m²
- ✓Sizes 2XS–2XL
- ✓V-neck collar, cuffs with press studs
Women's coat
- ✓65% polyester, 35% cotton
- ✓210 g/m²
- ✓Sizes 34–54
- ✓Chest pocket and two side pockets
Men's coat
- ✓65% polyester, 35% cotton
- ✓210 g/m²
- ✓Sizes 46–64
- ✓Straight cut, press-stud fastening
Insulated line – for work in cold and damp areas
Insulated jacket
- ✓70% polyester, 30% cotton
- ✓230 g/m²
- ✓Sizes S–2XL
- ✓Water-repellent fabric
- ✓Insulated, long sleeves
Insulated bib and brace
- ✓70% polyester, 30% cotton
- ✓230 g/m²
- ✓Sizes S–2XL
- ✓Water-repellent fabric
- ✓Insulated, with braces
Insulated bodywarmer
- ✓70% polyester, 30% cotton
- ✓230 g/m²
- ✓Sizes S–2XL
- ✓Water-repellent fabric
- ✓Insulated, sleeveless
Why washing at home is a risk, not a saving
The temperature is out of reach
A home washing machine cannot reach the process needed to control microbiological contamination.
No record at all
There is no way to prove when or how a garment was washed. During an inspection that becomes a problem.
A route through the home
Garments travel from home to the production area in the same car and the same bag as household items.
We launder according to EN 14065 (RABC) principles. Every cycle is recorded – during an inspection you produce a document, not a promise.
Who takes care of what
If you buy the garments yourself
- •Choosing and tracking sizes
- •Laundering and its quality control
- •Monitoring and replacing worn garments
- •Storage and stock for new employees
- •Repair or write-off
- •Evidence during an inspection
If you rent from North Wave
- •We select and mark garments for each employee
- •We launder according to EN 14065 (RABC) principles
- •We monitor wear and replace garments ourselves
- •We hold stock for your company
- •We repair or replace without a separate order
- •We provide documentation of the laundering process
Common questions
Answers to the questions food industry companies ask most often.
Yes. Hygiene Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 states that people working in food handling areas must wear suitable clean clothing, and ensuring this is the employer’s duty. In practice that means not only buying the garments, but also keeping them clean and in sound condition.
There is no formal prohibition, but in food handling areas it creates a serious risk: at home neither the process nor evidence of it can be assured. If an inspector asks how laundering is controlled, “employees wash it themselves” is not an adequate answer.
It depends on the risk level of the area. In the highest-risk areas garments have no external pockets, concealed fastenings and minimal seams. In lower-risk areas the requirements are lighter. We will help you choose according to your zone map.
Accountability sits with the food business. So what matters is not only which garments were bought, but whether their care can be evidenced. With rental, the laundering process and its records are on our side.
There is no single answer – it depends on intensity and fabric. What matters more is that someone monitors wear. With rental we take on that task: a worn garment is replaced without a separate order from you.
In high-risk areas (open product, fresh produce) the requirements are strictest. In medium- and low-risk areas – packing, storage, technical – simpler garments are allowed. It is worth using a different colour or marking for each area.
Usually a few days – we hold stock reserved for your company. For non-standard sizes or bespoke orders the timing is agreed separately.
A free needs assessment for your company
We will visit, look at your areas, assess staff numbers and give you a concrete proposal. With no obligation.