Gross things food servers do

[AKA_Monet]

I haven't seen overt violations by food servers I know public health food inspectors and the kinds of flagrant fouls they seek.

I have seen customers unwittingly not know how to do things. Like hacking into their hands then touching surfaces--like grocery carts.

I have seen folks pick their noses then try to shake my hand...

Generally, you look for burnt food and they kind of smells associated. If it is too old and just left heating for more than 3 hours (I think), then I would NEVER buy it. If you have to eat it, then fry the hayle out of it in the microwave. But even then, you may not be safe.

Also, you really should limit your fast food intake to no more than 3X per month.

But those nasty rats running around at that Taco Bell in NYC, there was a Science article that discussed the genetic behavior of these animals... I know it is posted there.

[JonInKC]

This reminds me of a related issue. Having seen things on tv and listening to what people who worked in the restaurant/food industry have actually told me, I have some advice.

Don't ever be nasty to the staff, and don't ever send something back. Once the chef/staff gets through with it, it will be much worse than it was before. If you have a problem with the food, I would ask for the manager and see if you can get compensated or something.

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by JonInKC

Don't ever be nasty to the staff, and don't ever send something back. Once the chef/staff gets through with it, it will be much worse than it was before. If you have a problem with the food, I would ask for the manager and see if you can get compensated or something.

Very true! Check out stainedapron.com

[christiangirl]

I can't stand it when I go to a fast food place and the worker aren't wearing gloves. At the Taco Bell I go to, I often see people not wearing gloves, but at least I see them washing their hands frequently. Once, I opened my taco to put sauce on it and so the curved imprint of a fingernail. It just tripped me out to actually see where someone's nail had stabbed my food.

Plus, I seem to be the girl who always finds SOMETHING in her food. I went to TGIFriday's and found a black curly hair in my food, right on top. So I sent it back and got something different, ate it, then found another hair, same color but straight, at the bottom of the plate.

Then there's the lovey time I bought a muffin and when I bit into it, a SCREW fell out....yeah, I walked away with some free stuff. I would've sued, but I didn't actually bite the screw.

Originally Posted by JonInKC

Don't ever be nasty to the staff, and don't ever send something back. Once the chef/staff gets through with it, it will be much worse than it was before. If you have a problem with the food, I would ask for the manager and see if you can get compensated or something.

The only time I'll send something back to the staff is if my meat's not cooked well enough. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have to eat a bleeding piece of meat/chicken just because I should be worried about what the kitchen might do to it.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

I can't stand it when I go to a fast food place and the worker aren't wearing gloves. At the Taco Bell I go to, I often see people not wearing gloves, but at least I see them washing their hands frequently. Once, I opened my taco to put sauce on it and so the curved imprint of a fingernail. It just tripped me out to actually see where someone's nail had stabbed my food.

Taco Bell does not require the use of gloves unless you're bleeding...they do however require that your nails are less then 1/4 inch beyond the back of your finger and without polish, and that you wash your hands after changing stations, touching personal items (hair, uniform, etc) and using the restroom (obviously).

-My first job as a teen was a Taco Bell where the manager flipped if we got anything less then 100% Health Dept score. I can't say the same for other stores in the district that I was occasionally sent to - NASTY.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Taco Bell does not require the use of gloves unless you're bleeding...they do however require that your nails are less then 1/4 inch beyond the back of your finger and without polish, and that you wash your hands after changing stations, touching personal items (hair, uniform, etc) and using the restroom (obviously).

-My first job as a teen was a Taco Bell where the manager flipped if we got anything less then 100% Health Dept score. I can't say the same for other stores in the district that I was occasionally sent to - NASTY.

Yeah, my first job was KFC/Taco Bell. We were completely anal about hygiene. I washed my hands every single time I changed stations-from cleaning, to the register, to handling food. If tongs fell, even during a rush, I'd take them to the back and wash them thoroughly. I later waitressed and not everything is true about sending food back. We would never dream of messing up someone's meal-that's just disgusting.
The one place I know I can rely on is Outback and that's because they have a special gluten-free menu. They know to use clean bowls and utensils and not to cross-contaminate any of the foods they serve. They're completely on the ball about it.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I haven't seen overt violations by food servers I know public health food inspectors and the kinds of flagrant fouls they seek.

I have seen customers unwittingly not know how to do things. Like hacking into their hands then touching surfaces--like grocery carts.

I have seen folks pick their noses then try to shake my hand...

Generally, you look for burnt food and they kind of smells associated. If it is too old and just left heating for more than 3 hours (I think), then I would NEVER buy it. If you have to eat it, then fry the hayle out of it in the microwave. But even then, you may not be safe.

Also, you really should limit your fast food intake to no more than 3X per month.

But those nasty rats running around at that Taco Bell in NYC, there was a Science article that discussed the genetic behavior of these animals... I know it is posted there.

Woah. This post is Earparific.

Maybe health inspectors are more strict up here in Michigan because I've never seen the dip procedure to wash glasses. Most places, including bars, will have a dishwasher or one of those power wash thingies in the kitchen. If they run out of glasses on an insanely busy night, the bars usually have big clear plastic cups for beer and not so fancy mixed drinks.

Some of these stories scare me. If we ever saw one of our servers or cooks do something to food they'd most likely be fired. And for those people who actually would do that, think of how you'd feel if you got a messed up order or something didn't taste right somewhere and one of the staff did something to your food. Pretty gross.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Woah. This post is Earparific.

Maybe health inspectors are more strict up here in Michigan because I've never seen the dip procedure to wash glasses. Most places, including bars, will have a dishwasher or one of those power wash thingies in the kitchen. If they run out of glasses on an insanely busy night, the bars usually have big clear plastic cups for beer and not so fancy mixed drinks.

Some of these stories scare me. If we ever saw one of our servers or cooks do something to food they'd most likely be fired. And for those people who actually would do that, think of how you'd feel if you got a messed up order or something didn't taste right somewhere and one of the staff did something to your food. Pretty gross.

Not the ones in Northern MI, they do the dip all the time at bars there.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

Not the ones in Northern MI, they do the dip all the time at bars there.

Siiiiiiiiiick

[KatieKate1244]

I would like to say nothing nasty was ever done at any of the resturants I've worked at...Last summer at the resturant I worked at, a woman did something to the toliets in a restroom, and flooded the entire place. There was about 2-3 inches of nasty sewer water in the entire resturant (and freezers), and the place was shut down for a day and half to clean it all up. All the food should have been thrown away, but the owners said if it was above a certain height and sealed to keep it. I didn't eat there for about 2 weeks, and advised people to do the same.