To ask cafes what’s the point in wearing gloves if going to handle money and food with them anyway?

[Chubbylegbrigade]

I live in central London and see this a lot in independent cafes and brands and not so much in the chaîns (eg in Starbucks the people who take your order and your money are different from the people who prepare your drink.)

But the standard independent approach seems to be: One person behind the till / display counter. They will wear gloves and will handle your food directly with the gloves and put it in a container or bag (whatever it is - say it’s a piece of cake or quiche.)

Then they will hand you the bag and tell you how much it costs. You give them the money; they take the money in their still - gloved hand and rifle through their till to give you the change.

Then the person in the queue behind you orders and they handle the food with the same gloved hand that took your money and gave you your change.

Considering money is one of the dirtiest things you can handle AIBU to bring this up every time I see someone doing it?

Yes, it really annoys me. I prefer to eat places that different people serve from taking money for this reason. Or they use tongs at least.

Somehow Greggs hasn’t caught up with this yet though.

It's the same as when they handle meat products (like making up sandwiches) and then you order a vegetarian type and they use the same gloves. I'm not vegetarian, and it still makes me thing "eh..."

Yes!!! So wrong! YANBU!

Yanbu

I completely agree

I agree, it drives me nuts to see. I've also noticed in a Costa near to me that when giving me or others a spoon with a coffee one of the servers habitually rubs the food end with his fingers before putting it on the saucer - many times I have asked for a clean one and pointed out he's just "cleaned" it with his fingers but he still does it.

It's a shame people who work in cafes or fast food chains aren't all required to do a Food Hygiene certificate.

Yes, I've thought the same. It's absolutely revolting! Maybe a cafe owner will be along soon to clarify why this happens, it really annoys me though. I just think "don't give me herpes!“ everytime!! Ha ha! Money is filthy, I dread to think what lurks on notes and coins.

Yanbu. I see this a lot too. In the butchers is the worst

YANBU - I always think the same when I notice they keep the gloves on to take the money.

(Unless they put on a new pair for each transaction and do food first, then money, then new gloves?)

This is exactly why wearing gloves to prepare food is extremely unhygienic. When staff wear gloves they feel they are “safe” and will use them without thinking for anything and rarely change them.

I am a manager in a major food restaurant and I won’t eat anywhere that they use gloves to prepare food.

It's a shame people who work in cafes or fast food chains aren't all required to do a Food Hygiene certificate.

SoozC I can’t speak for other fast food restaurants, but McDonalds is extremely stringent with hygiene and food safety and all crew are well trained in it.

Gloves are only used for specific things and there is very strict usage around them.

It's so when they have a piss or shit, or pick their noses in the back room etc. and then put their gloves on, you're not then eating what's on their fingers.

Unless you're all putting gloves on between paying with this allegedly filthy money and picking your food up..........

Not quite sure what you're all yowling about TBH....

Unless they put on a new pair for each transaction and do food first, then money, then new gloves?

So you put gloves on to remove money from your purse, then take them off, eat food. Put gloves on before next financial transaction, take off before touching food......

I think your hands are just as likely to be germ ridden, especially if you've got a kid incubating them for you.

God knows how we all survived 20 years ago eh????

Omg op I thought it was just me!!

So glad you posted this. Always churns my stomach

I used to work at McDonald's, I also had a food hygiene cert at the same time. I still wish proper food hygiene training was mandatory for anyone working in the food trade. McDonald's may have their rules but it doesn't equal more rigorous training and passing an assessment like the certificate. My point about wiping spoons down with fingers in Costa highlights some people really don't understand.

I'm fairly fastidious with hand washing and eating. Maybe I'm just odd, maybe it's because I'm a teacher and am all too aware of possible germs in the classroom!

You're completely right - this really bothers me !
I think some people think that the gloves are just to keep their hands clean !

SoozC If you’re a teacher now how long ago did you work there?

And it’s not just rules, it’s rigourous procedures that are always adhered to. Crew are well trained in food safety from knowing the correct temperatures food should be stored and cooked at to how best to how to maintain hygiene on shift.

This bothers me too! Agree with the pp who said the butcher's shop tends to be the worst offender for this (however if I'm buying raw chicken, mince or steak then the germs from the money should be removed by the cooking, I suppose).

I go to McDonald's quite frequently - for a coffee only, I promise - and am impressed by the good standards of food hygiene I see from the staff there.

I go to McDonald's quite frequently - for a coffee only, I promise - and am impressed by the good standards of food hygiene I see from the staff there.

LockedOutOfMN Yeah, they’re extremely extremely strict on food safety, hygiene and health and safety. The first two things you are trained on when you start are health and safety and hygiene and safety.

The training surrounding it is ongoing and rigourous, it is reiterated at the start of any training you undertake, both on the job, via our extensive elearning and tests.

Is money really that unhygienic? I was always told it was covered in germs, and yet if I had to guess, I'd guess that bacteria multiply much less quickly on paper or metal than on human skin. But please tell me if I've guessed wrong!

Is money really that unhygienic?

CardsforKittens Yup, money is filthy. It often has more germs than your toilet.

YANBU. My normal workplace uses tongs, or one person making food another taking money, depending which cafe. Was recently doing an event with staff mostly from a catering agency though and we had to move food from one tray to the other by hand, I was the only person who seemed to think to A. Use different hands for touching meat and veg and B. Slip the glove off my thumb to open the door. At home I am the most lazy, unhygenic person but at work I take it very seriously.

WhatToDo
Yup, money is filthy. It often has more germs than your toilet.

Interesting! But then my next question is: do the average person's hands have more germs than my toilet?
(I realise that it's not just about quantity but that the type of germs matters too!)