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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to report bakery for not covering cakes

87 replies

Professionallytorn · 19/04/2021 23:34

Walking past my favourite patisserie after closing time I noticed they had left several different ranges of cakes on the counter uncovered overnight. I messaged them to query this and the reply was it was a mistake, they do normally. I have since seen them leave cakes uncovered after closing. I think this contravenes food standards? AIBU to want to report them to food hygiene standards? I am also upset that I can't bring myself to shop there again for my favourite treats too. Am I wrong to be bothered about this ?

OP posts:
FredaFox · 20/04/2021 07:21

I reported a kebab shop near me as walking home from work I saw a rat scale a pipe inside the shop
The shop was open. Reported online and funnily enough that week in closed for a refurb.
Still can’t go in it
Now I’m picturing the rat eating his kebab every night if they are left uncovered!

SchadenfreudePersonified · 20/04/2021 07:23

@CuntyMcBollocks

You should have rang the police the instant you saw it so they could send a battalion of police straight to the scene of the crime!! Hmm
I rang the police once when a staff member was wearing an ordinary elastoplast on a cut finger instead of a blue one*.

They sent an armed response team and 3 of them abseiled through the plate glass window at the front. It was very exciting.

*The staff member was filling shelves, not working with food, but the Chief Constable contacted me personally to thank me for my vigilance - apparently the principle is the same, and if there were more people like me around the world would be a safer place.

I have been put forward for a medal.

CuntyMcBollocks · 20/04/2021 07:31

That sounds amazing. You most certainly did the right thing by calling the police for that. Just wearing a normal plaster... absolutely shocking!! I hope you were commended for your quick thinking! Not all hero's wear capes! StarGrin

CandidaAlbicans2 · 20/04/2021 07:32

Rats could easily be eating those cakes overnight

I would think this would be pretty obvious to staff and customers the next morning. It’s not like rats smooth the icing back over eaten bits or anything

@HoppingPavlova What!? Didn’t you know that rats do all the fancy cake decorating? I mean, have you seen their little fingers, just perfect for intricate work? Smoothing nibbled icing would be a doddle for them 😁

@Professionallytorn, uncovered cakes wouldn't bother me from a hygiene perspective, but then I'm pretty relaxed about such things. I'd just be concerned they'd have dried out.

nancywhitehead · 20/04/2021 07:33

I do think it's a bit gross and I wouldn't want to buy a cake that had been sitting out uncovered all night. I have seen bakeries do this too and it puts me off, and it's a shame when it's your favourite patisserie.

Whether you should report them I don't know. You've messaged them about it but it sounds like they've carried on doing it so it could be worth reporting. They won't get shut down for it so you wouldn't be harming their business. They might take it more seriously if they get advice from food hygeine standards.

Footloosefancyfree · 20/04/2021 07:38

Just kick a business when they are down op after the year they had could have easily been the mistake by one employ.Biscuit

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 20/04/2021 07:44

@SchadenfreudePersonified

Lucky you, I wrote to my MP when I saw a fly in a fish mongers window last February. That was ages ago and I've not had a reply so far...this Government is beyond useless.

(and I bet the fly is dead now. Sad)

Fooshufflewickjbannanapants · 20/04/2021 07:48

I cancelled the cheque.

SerendipityJane · 20/04/2021 07:50

I've been told in no uncertain terms many times on MN to get over myself and accept that uncovered pastries, rolls and items on deli counters are progress. Personally I would insist they are covered (and handled with tongs which also seems to be a bit "oh so yesterday"). But what do I know ?

CornishPastyDownUnder · 20/04/2021 07:51

Are the pared-back covid restrictions over there giving you "exciting new outrages/violations" to obsess over?
Id be calling my GP before harassing the local patissiere🥐

butterpuffed · 20/04/2021 08:03

@WorraLiberty

YANBU

Report in case customers get a stomach-cake.

If it's a popular bakery, probably best to ring round the local pharmacies and advise them to stock up on immodium and loo roll.
poppycat10 · 20/04/2021 08:05

@FireflyRainbow

My local bakery doesn't even wear gloves. The last time I got a cake they didn't even use tongs she just picked it up bare handed. They are a Nash's bakery. Vile.
That's normal. A hand for cake/bread and a hand for handling money, bags etc.

Won't cakes that have been left out overnight dry out and be no good to sell anyway?

Oneeyeopen · 20/04/2021 08:11

Dh and I were in a v. naice restaurant on the Champs Elysees a decade ago.
Ratatouille ran past along a little ledge!

We then noticed mousetraps discreetly placed along skirting.
It was an old building, we didn't complain.
The food was gorgeous.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 20/04/2021 08:18

We had a local coffee shop. It had large cakes that you slice. There was a fine layer of white mould over the entire thing. I politely pointed out out and watched whilst they took a knife across the top to remove it.

PricklesAndSpikes · 20/04/2021 08:19

@avamiah

DeedledeDee As did many well known supermarkets but not anymore. They would be Shut down immediately, they can’t have uncovered food about that anybody could of touched, sneezed or coughed on. Don’t be Ridiculous .
@avamiah How rude! It is you who is being ridiculous! My local ASDA and Sainsbury's both still have the uncovered bread, cakes and pastries section and have been like that for quite some time.
QuitMoaning · 20/04/2021 08:28

@fairlyurgentdresshelpneeded

I wish people understood that gloves are far, far less hygienic than bare hands washed regularly. Gloves should only be worn if someone has a skin condition or cut that's not covered. Even then they should only be worn for 5-10 mins max. That would be a lot of waste to deal with!!
Completely agree. Gloves give a false impression of cleanliness especially as often people handle the money as well which is disgusting. At my OH workplace (fish and chips), gloves are only allowed for injuries. The rest of the time it is tongs (and different tongs for different ‘types’ of food) and diligent regular hand washing and frequent hand sanitiser. No one actually touches the food.
CovidSmart · 20/04/2021 08:45

Agree with other posters @avamiah.
My local LIdl is the same too and you can still pick your bread/croissants etc... with tongues the same way than before.

FWIW my local tesco has decided to put everything in boxes. Result? Stuff that isn’t fresh packaged in such a way you can’t quite see it. Having to buy 3 items when you want just one etc....
I don’t call that an improvement and have stopped buying that stuff from them (but I do from Lidl).

Anyway.... Serioulsy @Professionallytorn, I’d let it go. You aren’t sure of the legislation there (it seems no one on this thread is either). You have no idea of what is happening to the food in the am.
What are you going to complain about?

vodkaredbullgirl · 20/04/2021 08:50

Spider willies Grin

YawnyOwl · 20/04/2021 08:53

Get a life OP Grin

Thefaceofboe · 20/04/2021 08:54

I would also be worried about spiders willys Sad

mustlovegin · 20/04/2021 09:05

Perhaps try e-mailing them again and explain that you noticed they are still leaving them uncovered?

Those at the head office answering the e-mails (the owners?) may not be the same as those on the shop floor

RedcurrantPuff · 20/04/2021 09:09

@avamiah

DeedledeDee As did many well known supermarkets but not anymore. They would be Shut down immediately, they can’t have uncovered food about that anybody could of touched, sneezed or coughed on. Don’t be Ridiculous .
Lidl still has all their bakery goods out uncovered.
Lubiluxe · 20/04/2021 09:15

I have a local veg/ healthy foods/ bakery store (one of those lovely places that is really overpriced) and they have a couple of tables in there and kids toys so you can have a cuppa too (pre pandemic) and I was there once and the lovely fresh bread that costs an arm and a leg were all in display right at kids height and I saw a kid sneeze over the selection of breads. I told the people working there (in a really nice way) that it had happened, because, well, gross!!! And they moved it and I suggested maybe since they are not covered, they'd be better putting them out of kids reach as they touch everything. They said good idea. The next few times I was in there, they were still low down. Never been able to buy any again.

RogueMNerKnowsNoShame · 20/04/2021 09:27

@CovidSmart

Agree with other posters *@avamiah*. My local LIdl is the same too and you can still pick your bread/croissants etc... with tongues the same way than before.

FWIW my local tesco has decided to put everything in boxes. Result? Stuff that isn’t fresh packaged in such a way you can’t quite see it. Having to buy 3 items when you want just one etc....
I don’t call that an improvement and have stopped buying that stuff from them (but I do from Lidl).

Anyway.... Serioulsy @Professionallytorn, I’d let it go. You aren’t sure of the legislation there (it seems no one on this thread is either). You have no idea of what is happening to the food in the am.
What are you going to complain about?

Wow! Thats an impressive way to select your baked goods!
Fuckingcrustybread · 20/04/2021 10:12

My local LIdl is the same too and you can still pick your bread/croissants etc... with tongues the same way than before
How do you pick your bread/croissants with tongues? Do you lean over and lick the one you want?
I really don't fancy picking bread/croissants with tongues.