Burger King Ickies

[acejka]

I know very few people that stand in line to pay for their food at a fast food restaurant, wait for their food, then head to the bathroom to wash their hands. I'm sure we'll have 213 posters post that they do just that now post after this, but I don't notice it being a common practice when we're out.

I actually do! I guess I was just taught that you always wash and it stuck with me.

If we go through the drive through I at least use a wet ones, but usually if we are grabbing something in the drive through, we bring it home.

 

[allison443]

I know very few people that stand in line to pay for their food at a fast food restaurant, wait for their food, then head to the bathroom to wash their hands. I'm sure we'll have 213 posters post that they do just that now post after this, but I don't notice it being a common practice when we're out.

I agree, I don't think most people do that...I guess the OP would leave the tray of food unattended on a table and take her dd to the restroom to wash?

Then you'd have to touch the faucets and doorhandles of the BK restroom. Aren't those supposed to be pretty germ-filled too?

 

[Sweetpancake]

That is gross! That reminds me of this past summer, we went to Ballet in the Park and watched a hotdog vendor, handle cash with his gloves on, then use his hands to take the bun out of the bag, Blah! He did this, over and over and over again.

 

[Michelle_R]

One time I was in a restroom at a fast food restaurant finishing up washing my hands. Heard a flush, employee (she was only other person in the restroom, so yes I know it was her flushing) walks right out past me, walks into the food area and starts handling the food. Yes, I actually saw her do this, as I left the restroom right behind her. Needless to say, we left and have never been back.

 

[palavra]

Yes, you over reacted. You do realize that you build up your resistance to colds, virus' and diseases by being exposed to germs, right.

I have to agree. Honestly, you really don't know who all has touched your food in a restaurant/fast food place before it is served.

 

[happily single]

I'm not as concerned about the cashier handling money and then my food without washing her hands as I would just about a stranger handling my food. Period. Sorry, but who knows what, if anything, she could have in terms of disease, infection, etc.

 

[kirstenb1]

Wearing gloves is not more sanitary then handling the food with your bare clean hands. I just completed a food safety class and there is NO requirement to wear gloves.

When I worked in restaurants many years ago, the Health Inspector always told us that frequent hand washing was more sanitary than wearing gloves. Regardless, it's still wrong to have the same person handling cash, and doing any type of food handling without washing/gloves.

 

[bumbershoot]

Why did she DO that?

If a person is strictly in one position when handling food, and hands are washed often, being gloveless doesn't bother me much. It's some one shifting from one spot to the next that I'd prefer to see gloves on.

I agree that if your'e just doing one thing, it's not bad.

But about moving around...if you're going to move around and be clean about it, you need to be switching gloves with each move. We don't eat at Subway anymore b/c of ingredients in their bread, but when I was eating there, they were grossing me out about how they just kept the same gloves on over and over, and they'd wipe their noses, touch their hair, etc etc, then go back to doing what they were doing. Sure, their hands were protected, but nothing else was!

OP (and everyone else who said it was gross) did you pay with cash? Did you then wash your hands before you were going to eat your burger?

Wouldn't your cash also have germs?

OK that's a seriously good point.

But...my germs are mine, her germs are hers. I don't want to deal with hers on that level. And I still want to know what she was really doing with that bun!

 

[Jennasis]

You guys don't even want to KNOW what kinds of germs are on the tables at fast food restaurants.

 

[ilovepcot]

I was told this by a health food inspector, but I don't believe it. Like the OP, I was in a fast food restaurant several years ago and saw the person handling money also handling the food. I freaked because I'm a horrible germaphobe. Called our friend (health food inspector) and asked WHY would the restaurant allow this practice to go on? He told me that it was perfectly within guidelines to handle food after handling money as it didn't transfer germs to cause the spread of disease. WHAT???? He went into great detail explaining all this and assured me studies had been carried out to prove this and I had nothing to fear. Nope...don't accept that. I know the man well and he's no idiot, BUT...like a PP said, bills stuffed into g-strings and who knows where else!!!

 

[Jennasis]

I was told this by a health food inspector, but I don't believe it. Like the OP, I was in a fast food restaurant several years ago and saw the person handling money also handling the food. I freaked because I'm a horrible germaphobe. Called our friend (health food inspector) and asked WHY would the restaurant allow this practice to go on? He told me that it was perfectly within guidelines to handle food after handling money as it didn't transfer germs to cause the spread of disease. WHAT???? He went into great detail explaining all this and assured me studies had been carried out to prove this and I had nothing to fear. Nope...don't accept that. I know the man well and he's no idiot, BUT...like a PP said, bills stuffed into g-strings and who knows where else!!!

Again, YOU touched the money. The germs are on YOUR hands too, and you eat with your own hands (and you'd have to bring your food into the bathroom and eat right after washing your hands...right at the sink). Not to mention the germs you pick up from the table top, the tray, the button on the drink dispenser, the handle for the bathroom door and on and on.

"Dirty" money is the least of our concerns.

 

[paysensmom]

I know very few people that stand in line to pay for their food at a fast food restaurant, wait for their food, then head to the bathroom to wash their hands. I'm sure we'll have 213 posters post that they do just that now post after this, but I don't notice it being a common practice when we're out.

I do not go to the bathroom and wash my hands after ordering food. BUT.... I ALWAYS have hand sanitizer in my purse. IF we go to a fast food place, I order and when I get our food, I have the kids use the sanitizer and so do I.

 

[Jennasis]

I do not go to the bathroom and wash my hands after ordering food. BUT.... I ALWAYS have hand sanitizer in my purse. IF we go to a fast food place, I order and when I get our food, I have the kids use the sanitizer and so do I.

Just remember, any germs on the cashiers hands are also on your wrapper, so you'll need to unwrap your food without touching your burger and THEN use the sanitizer. And be sure to not touch anything else while eating (table top, drink cup, tray etc), at least not without a good follow up douse of sanitizer after each accidental touch.

 

[ilovepcot]

Again, YOU touched the money. The germs are on YOUR hands too, and you eat with your own hands (and you'd have to bring your food into the bathroom and eat right after washing your hands...right at the sink). Not to mention the germs you pick up from the table top, the tray, the button on the drink dispenser, the handle for the bathroom door and on and on.

"Dirty" money is the least of our concerns.

No, no, no, no, no!!! I NEVER touch my own food with bare hands. You have no idea how bad my germaphobe issues are. Horrible! Drives my family nuts!

 

[Jennasis]

No, no, no, no, no!!! I NEVER touch my own food with bare hands. You have no idea how bad my germaphobe issues are. Horrible! Drives my family nuts!

Ummm...how...how do you eat?

 

[ilovepcot]

Ummm...how...how do you eat?

It's a real mess actually. I use paper towels to handle anything that won't go into an oven or microwave after handling with bare hands.This "germ thing" started when I was in nursing school and began a rotation in surgery. Germs were paramount and I became fascinated with microbiology and this grew into a monster with me.

ETA: Paper towels are handled the same way a sterile dressing would be handled...grabbed from the backside only....no bare hands touching an area that will touch the food. Sick, really sick and I freely admit it!

 

[allison443]

I remember reading somewhere that germs thrive in a moist environment (like handles on the bathroom sink) and not so much on hard surfaces or other surfaces. Maybe the surface of money is not conducive to hosting germs for a long period of time?

 

[allison443]

Just remember, any germs on the cashiers hands are also on your wrapper, so you'll need to unwrap your food without touching your burger and THEN use the sanitizer. And be sure to not touch anything else while eating (table top, drink cup, tray etc), at least not without a good follow up douse of sanitizer after each accidental touch.

How about the straws and napkins? Ketchup packets? etc.

 

[Jennasis]

How about the straws and napkins? Ketchup packets? etc.

Well luckily straws have that handy paper wrapper, but ketchup and napkins for sure! And heaven help you if your restaurant has a pump style dispenser.

 

[MIGrandma]

And heaven help you if your restaurant has a pump style dispenser.

Oh yeah, I've heard about kids using those like drinking fountains.