Types of Food Shields & Barriers

What sneeze guard/ food shield is right for me?

Determining which type of food shield best fits your application is the first step in building a secure, NSF certified foodservice protection solution for your business. Foodservice protection is not only an important step to preventing customers’ germs and airborne pathogens, it can also be a requirement for many foodservice settings.

To break this down, food shields and barriers can generally be divided into five categories: operator-service, self-service, vertical shield, convertible, display case. Each one has its own use and will provide true protection for your employees and customers. Keep reading to see which sneeze guard is right for your operation...

Operator-service Sneeze Guards/ Shields: Operator-service food shields and sneeze guards are designed for situations where an attendant, such as a cashier, provides the customer with items that are behind the counter, not accessible to customers. This type of food shield is commonly used for bakeries and delis.

Self-service Sneeze Guards/ Shields: Self-service sneeze guards or food shields are designed for customers to reach in and serve themselves. This type of food shield is commonly used on salad bars and buffets.

Vertical Shields/ Barriers: Vertical food shields, sometimes called breath barriers, can be used in foodservice areas or anywhere where a see-through barrier is needed. Vertical food shields are commonly seen in banks, cafeterias, or quickservice restaurants with a viewable prep area. They are also popular in safeguarding cashiers during checkout and often include a pass-through cut in the glass to conduct transactions.  

Vertical Sneeze Guards/ Shields: Convertible food shields/ sneeze guards allow you to accommodate operator-service, self-service, or full-service operations. This type of sneeze guard features an adjustable panel that can be flipped up for self-serving, or down for operator-only access for the reverse side. These are often seen most utilized at hotels, resorts, casinos, and restaurants that want the flexibility to switch between grab-and-go, self-serve stations and attendant serving.

Display Cases: Display cases consist of a 3-sided glass partition and top shelf. For applications such as museums & displays where items do not need to be taken out of the case on a regular basis, an operator service shield can be modified to fully enclose on all sides, forming a glass display case. A fully enclosed display case is ideal for galleries, exhibits, and other non-foodservice applications.