Does Dietary Wear Scrubs? Unpacking Hospital Uniforms

December 12, 2025 •

4 min read

According to research on staff uniforms and policy in healthcare, the work attire of personnel, including those in food services, is often determined by infection control measures and the level of patient contact. The question of 'does dietary wear scrubs' therefore depends on the specific role and the facility's policy, with many dietary aides wearing scrubs, while some registered dietitians might wear business casual attire and a white coat.

Quick Summary

The uniform worn by dietary staff varies widely depending on the role and facility. Dietary aides frequently wear scrubs, prioritizing ease of movement and hygiene, while some dietitians opt for business casual with a white coat, though scrubs are sometimes an option. All attire adheres to strict hygiene and safety protocols.

Key Points

Dietary Aides often wear scrubs: Scrubs are a common uniform for dietary aides in medical settings due to their practicality, hygiene, and comfort.
Dietitians have varied dress codes: Depending on their role and facility policy, Registered Dietitians may wear scrubs or business casual attire, sometimes with a white coat.
Hygiene and safety are top priorities: All dietary staff, regardless of uniform, must follow strict personal hygiene and dress code standards to prevent food contamination and ensure safety.
Proper footwear is crucial: Slip-resistant, closed-toe shoes are a universal requirement for dietary staff to ensure safety on wet or slippery floors.
Uniform choice reflects the job function: The type of uniform often corresponds to the specific tasks of the role, balancing patient interaction, physical demands, and sanitation needs.
Facility policy is the ultimate guide: The final dress code for any dietary professional is determined by the specific policies of the healthcare facility where they are employed.

Understanding the Dietary Department's Role and Uniform Needs

The dietary department is a vital part of any healthcare facility, responsible for ensuring patients receive safe, timely, and nutritious meals. This team is comprised of various roles, including dietary aides, cooks, and registered dietitians (RDs), all of whom must adhere to specific dress codes designed for both safety and professionalism. The type of uniform, whether scrubs or another professional attire, is selected based on job function, facility policy, and the need for infection control. For example, a dietary aide delivering food trays may require the protective, easy-to-clean nature of scrubs, while an RD counseling patients on a specific diet might need to project a more traditional clinical appearance.

Factors Influencing Dietary Dress Codes

Several factors dictate what dietary staff wear. At the forefront are hygiene and infection control. With staff handling food and potentially interacting with patients, controlling the spread of microbes is paramount. Hospital policies often outline strict rules for attire, including requirements for clean uniforms, proper footwear, and restrictions on jewelry. Functionality is another key aspect. A uniform must be practical for the task at hand, whether it involves navigating tight hospital corridors with food carts or conducting patient consultations. The appearance of the uniform also contributes to the hospital's overall professional image, helping patients and visitors easily identify staff and feel assured about the quality of care.

The Uniform for a Dietary Aide: Often Scrubs

For dietary aides and food service workers, scrubs are a common uniform choice. Scrubs are practical, durable, and easy to clean, which is essential for a role that involves frequent contact with food, spills, and patients. The reasons for this uniform choice include:

Hygiene: Scrubs can be laundered at high temperatures to effectively remove bacteria and contaminants, ensuring a sterile environment around food preparation and delivery.
Ease of Movement: Aides often walk long distances, pushing carts and delivering trays. The loose-fitting design of scrubs offers comfort and flexibility throughout a long shift.
Visibility: In a busy medical setting, a uniform color helps other staff and patients quickly identify a dietary aide.
Employer Mandate: Many facilities provide or require scrubs to maintain a uniform appearance and adhere to a facility-wide dress code.

The Uniform for a Registered Dietitian: A More Varied Approach

Registered Dietitians (RDs) may have a more varied dress code, depending on their work setting and daily tasks. Some RDs, particularly those working in inpatient settings like the ICU, prefer scrubs for comfort and practicality, especially when performing patient assessments. However, it is also common for RDs to wear business casual attire, sometimes paired with a white lab coat. The choice often comes down to personal preference and hospital policy. The perception of authority and a more traditional medical professional image are factors that sometimes sway the decision toward business casual.

Dietary Uniform Comparison: Aides vs. RDs


Feature	Dietary Aides (Often)	Registered Dietitians (Varied)
Standard Attire	Scrubs	Business Casual or Scrubs
Reasons for Attire	High hygiene, food handling, mobility, spill protection	Professional image, patient interaction, clinical assessments
Hygiene Considerations	Easy-to-sanitize material, frequent washing, hairnets	Less direct food contact, but still adheres to hospital hygiene standards
Common Accessories	Hairnets, slip-resistant closed-toe shoes, minimal jewelry	White coat (for business casual), name badge, appropriate footwear
Flexibility and Comfort	High mobility needed for physically active role	Comfortable footwear important for walking hospital rounds
Role and Setting	Primarily food preparation and delivery in hospital/facility settings	Patient counseling, rounds, may work in inpatient or outpatient settings

Proper Footwear for the Dietary Department

Regardless of whether they wear scrubs or business casual, proper footwear is a universal requirement for dietary staff. Given the long hours spent on their feet and the potential for spills in a kitchen or on a service cart, specific shoe criteria are enforced. Generally, shoes must be:

Closed-toe and Closed-heel: To protect the feet from spills, dropped items, and potential injury.
Slip-resistant: To prevent falls on wet or greasy floors in kitchen and service areas.
Sturdy and Supportive: To provide comfort and minimize fatigue during extended periods of walking.

The Bottom Line on Dietary Uniforms

So, does dietary wear scrubs? The answer is often yes for dietary aides who are heavily involved in food service and delivery. However, the picture is more complex for registered dietitians, who might wear scrubs or business casual depending on the facility and their specific duties. Both uniform choices are dictated by strict protocols prioritizing hygiene, safety, and a professional appearance. For any dietary role, the focus is on practical, easy-to-clean attire that upholds the high standards of a healthcare environment.

Conclusion

In summary, the attire for dietary staff in a healthcare setting is not one-size-fits-all. While dietary aides commonly wear scrubs to promote hygiene and comfort during food handling and delivery, registered dietitians have more flexibility, often choosing between scrubs and professional attire with a white coat. All dietary employees must comply with facility-specific dress codes that emphasize cleanliness, safety, and a professional demeanor, particularly concerning footwear and personal grooming. This varied approach ensures that each member of the dietary team is dressed appropriately for their specific function while upholding the overall standards of the institution.

Here is an example of a healthcare system's detailed dress code policy that touches upon various department requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

The uniform choice depends on the specific role and the healthcare facility's policy. Dietary aides, who have higher food-handling responsibilities and more physically active roles, often wear scrubs. Registered Dietitians, who may focus more on patient consultation, might have the option of wearing business casual attire.

This is determined by the hospital or facility. Some institutions have color-coded scrubs for different departments, and dietary services will have an assigned color. Others may simply require a uniform appearance without specifying a color.

Dietary staff are required to wear closed-toe, non-slip footwear for safety. This protects their feet from spills, dropped items, and prevents slips and falls in kitchen and service areas.

Yes, absolutely. Even if wearing business casual, dietitians must adhere to strict personal hygiene standards outlined by the facility. This includes requirements for cleanliness, hair restraints, and minimal jewelry, especially when interacting with patients or food.

This depends on the facility's policy. Some hospitals provide scrubs for all employees to ensure uniformity and proper laundering protocols, while others may allow staff to purchase their own, provided they meet specific color and style guidelines.

Hairnets or head coverings are required for dietary staff who have direct contact with food to prevent hair from contaminating the food, a critical component of food safety and sanitation.

Seasonal adaptations in uniforms are more focused on breathability and layering rather than a complete change in style. For example, wearing moisture-wicking fabrics in warm weather and adding a hospital-approved cardigan in cooler temperatures can be common adjustments.