To think this is grim food hygiene?

[Lismore]

I’ve just made my regular stop at Gloucester services on the M5.

They apparently have 4 million visitors per year. How is it good food hygiene to have most of them (not to mention flie) file past open plates of cakes and biscuits?

Admittedly it’s good for my teeth as I usually love a bit of cake but would never buy one from here.

How is it allowed by the environmental health people?

You know, I've always thought that too, but thought it was just me!

It's a nice services, though.

Well, they’re not all there at once…

Bleurgh, i hate uncovered cakes etc.

Photo to follow (admittedly of denuded plates and services is currently very quiet)

English Heritage cafes are the same - they look so tempting,but I'd never buy one

• and flies

What on earth do you think is going to happen?!

Looks like the set up in a few places tbh

Not that I agree with it.

Remember looking into a bakery window and thinking the cakes looked rather yummy until I noticed the wasps crawling all over them 🤢

Ewww that's grim. I don't want food that's been left out where members of the public can cough/ sneeze over it let alone flies.

The poor cakes must be coughed and sneezed over, poked by small children, crawled over by flies and wasps….

Would happily get a slice of Victoria sponge from that table. The openness or a fly wouldn't bother me.

They must dry out if they are sat there for any length of time but it’s not really tempting
prob cost a fortune too

It's the same chain as runs Tebay in the north west and honestly the food is so good I'd risk a slice. The chocolate dipped candied orange slices are absolutely amazing.

it would be better if they at least had those clear covers over them to protect them.

My only issue would be that it'd probably by as dry as fuck by the end of the day.

From an Environmental health point of view they are low risk due to the sugar content, usually they should have good pest control in place if they want to keep open. I've not seen too many like this completely open. Usually have individual covered or sneeze screens in front

So strange why wouldn't they put a closh type cover over them.

Couldn't agree more, that's very off-putting.

as long as they’ve not been on the floor I’d give them a go.

it is a bit rank and they’d be dry.

I think about this ALL THE TIME 😂

They are not on the floor for any length of time though. With 4 million visitors a year, I expect each cake is there for maximum an hour before they top it up with a fresh portion. We stop there regularly and indulge freely. Not had any issues yet.
I presume flies and wasps are hypothetical so about as much of a concern as a hypothetical food poisoning. I bet you would eat a cake in your own house if it sat on the counter for half a day.

Same reason I won’t buy ‘open’ food from the bakery sections at supermarkets like M&S and Sainsburys. I have seen people touching the bread/cakes and putting them back. No way I want to buy germy food!

Completely agree @Lismore .

The swarms of rats at night in the service station areas is worthy of a Pied Piper film set........never get food in those places