Serious hygiene issues in the field of rubber are summarized in this review article. We look at latex allergy issue and nitrosamine issue that have occurred in the past as serious hygiene issues of rubber products, while keeping in mind that saving a human life is a true proposition as a superordinate concept that must be prioritized above all. We reaffirm that new technologies must be developed based on new concepts to solve these issues and understand a significant importance of developing protein-free natural rubber and nitrosamine-free vulcanization accelerators. We recognize that hygiene issues are usually avoided by laws and regulations such as the positive list system since developments of new technologies based on new concepts are exceedingly difficult. We also look at a progress status of preparation of the “5th edition of the positive list regarding rubber food utensils, containers and packagings”. Consequently, one may understand the activities and importance of the Research Subcommittee on Hygiene Issues of the Society of Rubber Science and Technology, Japan, which conducts research on the hygiene issues in the field of rubber.