I always handle the salad ingredients with my bare hands since I then proceed to chop the lettuce, shallots, etc. with a sharp butcher knife before loading them in the bowl with my bare hands. I then toss the salad with cold-pressed EVOO and thick balsamic vinegar with salad tongs. Of course, I wash my hands before and after. I’ve prepared salads this way since 2000, in full view of guests. In 23 years I’ve never given this a second thought, nor have my guests.
The best way to make a kale salad is to hand-knead it with EVOO to soften it, although I wear gloves when I do that since I don’t want oil all over my hands.