sneezeguard

American  

[sneez-gahrd] / ˈsnizˌgɑrd /

noun

1. a plastic or glass shield overhanging a salad bar, buffet, or the like to protect the food from contamination.

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Usage

What is a sneezeguard? A sneezeguard (or sneeze guard) is a barrier usually made of plastic or glass that is intended to prevent the spread of germs, especially from sneezing or coughing. Sneezeguards are most commonly used at salad bars and buffets in restaurants to protect food from being contaminated by germs. They do this by acting as a physical barrier between the food and people who may release germs by sneezing, coughing, or even speaking or exhaling above the food. Restaurants are often required by law to have such barriers. They’re sometimes called food shields. Sneezeguards can also be used in other situations to prevent the spread of germs directly from person to person. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, they were installed at places where people might have to be close to each other, such as between the cashier and the customer at checkout counters. Sometimes, personal face shields (consisting of a clear plastic shield that covers the whole face) are also called sneezeguards. Example: A lot of grocery stores have installed sneezeguards at the cash register to prevent the virus from spreading between employees and customers.

Etymology

Origin of sneezeguard

First recorded in 1980–85