Food in farm shop not covered

[DaisyChainGang1]

A couple of weeks ago, I went to an upmarket farm shop to buy sweet treats as we had visitors coming to stay. The display looked inviting and they did have the sort of thing I wanted, but a lot of it was completely unwrapped.
There were shelves of artisanal bread just there for people to pick up. The lowest shelf was only just off the ground, so the bread was right by people’s dirty shoes. 🤮 On another table there were baskets of cakes and I saw them being handled and replaced. Again 🤮. This is before we get on to coughs and sneezes.
I went home and made my own.
AIBU to think that it is totally a ridiculous way to try and sell food? I just can’t believe anyone buys this stuff, but the shop was busy. 🤷‍♀️

I like my food wrapped as well OP. I have been in supermarket toilets and people have left without washing their hands. Presumably to go and maul the fruit and bread. Yuk! People shopping in farm shops or any other could possibly have been equally unhygienic.

There’s been several threads about this over the last few days, I think we have a new “breadzilla” sensation happening on MN

The "ewwwww, germs" posts are so 2020.

Couldn't give two hoots. Far more concerned about excess single-use plastic packaging than the horrors of uncovered bread.

I think it's fine as long as they don't allow dogs in.

Exactly the same thing was posted here about Lidl bakery the other day.
They are all the same.

I don't mind anything being unwrapped as long as it's out of reach of customers or can be washed (such as fruit, veg).

Not keen on buying things I can't wash that might have been touched by a dozen grubby people tbh.

I always think of the analysis they did on free peanuts in a bar.

Lidl pretzels are worth a visit even if I don't need anything else😂

Is this a deliberate counterpoint to this thread?

LIDL bakery counter - I don't understand! | Mumsnet

I love shopping at the Tebay services Farm Shop they have the most amazing food ... most unwrapped, doesn't bother me at all.

I don’t think I said it had to be plastic packaging. There are other ways… glass domes.
In our market where food is sold unwrapped, it is piled up behind a transparent screen and you ask for what you want.

@DaisyChainGang1 what I took from your post was that the food is there uncovered (no sneeze guard, tongs a la Lidl bakery), the bottom shelf was low
enough to get dust and dirt on it kicked up from shoes, and kids were able to (hypothetically or otherwise) poke a finger in cakes. I don’t think you were referring to unwrapped food behind a counter. Fwiw - I am with you. That prodding, poking finger could be unwashed from a toilet visit and the food isn’t cooked before consumption. I would buy it either.

The local farmers market has unwrapped bread, cakes and pastries on a table. Lidl has them unwrapped in an open cabinet. I wouldn't be keen on having them near the floor, I'd place root veg or something there myself, heavier items that are washed or peeled, or jars etc. Depends how near the floor you mean.

Tesco. Sainsbury’s. Asda. M&S. Waitrose. Lidl. Aldi. All have in-store self-serve bakeries where you can pick up bread, croissants, danish pastries, muffins, bread rolls etc. Tongs and paper bags are provided and none of these products are usually wrapped or covered behind plastic. It’s not artisan or rustic when every big supermarket does it! Have you really never been to the in-store bakery in any of these supermarkets? They’ve all been like this as long as I can remember, don’t believe it’s a new thing at all.

@Favouritefruits...I used to work at a Booths supermarket and my section was next to the bakery area, at that time they'd just switched over to 'open' displays, the number of people I saw squeezing and poking the loaves not to mention those who even picked them up and sniffed them put me off unwrapped bread permanently.

About 5cm from the floor.

Definitely not gonna eat anything touched by thongs, no offence.

Yes I’ve seen it in supermarkets. If I think it’s too open, I don’t buy there either. Our local market has bread behind clear screen or under domes.

I do hate it when the mud from my shoes jumps 5cm into the nearest basket of bread… M&S help yourself bakery was all uncovered today. My pain pretzel was lovely and no sign of sickness so far 🥨

What if it's sclean thongs on tongs 😁

Joking. That was a very disturbing word swap I did there

Bacteria on food?
Typical first world problem.
You could be knocked over crossing the street, bacteria would be the least of your worries then.
😁😁.

Yes, agree that's too low for anything other than root veg or food in a jar/box/bag.

5cm is the magic shoe dirt transference point it’s true.

What on earth do you think is going to happen to you if you buy stuff from there?

Except, they are not. I would bet they have no problem off loading stock. We have several shops like that around here. Not one will be open by 3 on a Saturday afternoon. I went to one last Saturday and it was closed at 1.15. They sell out.