WRAL reports that North Carolina state legislators considered changes Thursday to overhaul food safety standards that were implemented over 35 years ago.

Larry Michael, a spokesman from NC Dairy & Food Protection, said people are now realizing that "safe food is good business."

Some of the proposed changes include prohibiting workers from handling ready-to-eat food with their bare hands and doing away with the bonus points restaurants can earn by completing a two-day food safety course.

New regulations would require a certified food protection manager to be on site whenever the establishment is open. Employees would be able to earn that certification online.

If the changes are accepted, they won’t go into effect until September at the earliest.