To think this is not/should not be normal?

[MonaLisaDoesntSmile]

I recently popped in one of the local (kind of, we have no shops really close by) shops. They have a deli counter with hams and cheeses, and a meat/butcher counter. They are in separate fridges, but usually manned by one person as it's not very busy.

I was hoping to buy some nice cheese. There was one guy in front of me in the queue. He was buying some (raw) chicken and pork chops and then some cheese and hams. The lady at the counter first grabbed and packed the chicken and pork, and then, with the same gloves, went to slice some of the ham and cheese. Is it just me, or is it not very food safety minded/hygenic? I woud have thought they should be changing gloves if not after each handling, then at least have separate gloves for raw stuff and cooked meats?
I popped in again today for something else and I saw them doing the same thing again- everything, raw and cold meats and cheese, handled and wrapped in the same pair of gloves.

I really think this is not very hygienic.

They should definitely be changing to a fresh pair of gloves!

You should mention it when next you go in there. Ask the server to put on fresh gloves for your order.

I have an allergy so have to ask servrers to use a clean knife when cutting things in a cafe or shop

No, they are meant to use separate gloves.

I would stop going there. They might use fresh gloves if you ask them to but how many times that day has that chunk of cheese / salami etc been picked up with the raw chickeny gloves already? Gross.

My god, that is disgusting and potentially very dangerous. I would definitely talk to the owner/manager about what you saw. Anyone working in food service should know better than this.

Our butcher always washes his hands to serve cooked meat after handling raw meat. I'm sure they would fail an inspection without doing so.

I agree with you. I wouldn't buy from there.
In fact, you should report them:
www.food.gov.uk/contactconsumersreport-problem/report-poor-hygiene-practices

Ewwwww. Definitely disgusting. I would say something, and not shop there.

That’s gross

Even if they change gloves when you ask, the equipment and food will have spent all day being handled with the same gloves as raw meat. I’d stay well clear!

And possibly also complain to the shop, especially if it’s part of a chain.

You can report it to your local council and ask for a food hygiene inspection. Preferably before someone dies. There was a similar case in Lanarkshire some years ago where several pensioners at a party became ill and one died, after the butcher supplying the meat did exactly this.

It’s not normal, no. It’s cross contamination and there should be colour coded gloves (eg blue) for handling raw meat and non raw items (E.g. clear)

You really must report this, op. This is no small thing.

Definitely report, on a bad day that could kill someone.

My food hygiene standards are generally pretty appalling by the mumsnet measure but even I wash ANYTHING that touches raw meat immediately.

That's terrible and I'd be tempted to report them to trading standards / environmental health at the council.

Absolutely report them.
It's a wonder nobody has been ill with food poisoning / contamination and reported already.

Don't be buying anything from behind the counter I assume their theory is as long as they don't contaminate themselves by wearing gloves screw the rest of you!!

Totally against all health and hygiene regulations, and I would be reporting it to the food standards agency pronto.

Definitely raise this with at minimum the manager of the store.

Not only should they be changing gloves they should also be changing aprons and washing hands inbetween.

Why didn't you say anything!?!?!

I complain when the guys in subway make a meat sandwich and then keep the same gloves on when making my veggie patty. I'd deffo be complaining about raw chicken juice all over cheese!

At one point they mandated gloves in New York and found food hygiene got worse.

I am not at all fussy about food hygiene but even I would draw the line at that.

Really dangerous practice and well worth a call to the local authorities.

I think they should have very separate everything for raw and cooked meat. A few of our local butchers have switched to raw or cooked only due to the hassle of keeping everything properly safe and separate.

Are they actually handling the raw meat with their gloved hands, or are they using a utensil, so not actually touching?

I once went to the deli counter and the assistant sneezed into a tissue, then, without washing her hands, went to serve me! I reported it.