To be grossed out by this?

[PrimatePantaloons]

On a family day out buying hot drinks/ snacks from a van. I’d got my drinks/ snacks already but spotted the woman who had just served me pluck a hair out of her face with her fingers nails, look at it and then flick it off in a random direction…

I am very overly sensitive to this sort of stuff/ borderline obsessive but this is mainstream gross isn’t it?

I see this sort of stuff all the time and don’t get stuff for myself when out and about, but sometimes I wonder what would happen if I asked people to wash their hands after I’ve seen them doing something like this?

The other day in Costa I saw a guy scratch the inside of his ear with his little finger and then put a lid on someone’s take away coffee without washing his hands? That’s gross too right?

I feel like my perspective is skewed because of my anxiety about this type of thing, which I am having therapy for. As part of this I’m trying to recalibrate what is/ is not acceptable.

The woman from today didn’t even try and hide it… she was chatting to the next customer in the queue whilst admiring this chin hair she had just pulled out and then literally just flicked it off. It could have landed anywhere. That is gross, yes?

There is a woman who works at my local supermarket who would lick her thumb and finger to open a carrier bag 🤢🤢🤮 This was before covid and I said to my DP thats part of the reason this thing will spread. Absolutely disgusting. I never go to her till as she makes me feel sick.

Another time the same thing happened when a guy in the bakers I was buying a cake from licked his fingers to open the bag. I walked out and said it’s ok…. Never been back since. Absolute mingers

Eugh
No
Flaky bits of someone else in my food or drink...🤢

I once was queuing at a food van and the man cooking was sweating over the grill...wiped his face on a rag and carried on cooking. I just couldn't bear the thought of his sweat dripping all over the food 🤢 although he had my sympathy being in a hot food van on a hot summer's day!

he should’ve had a bandanna on or something at least that would’ve help a bit 🤢

I’m the very same.

I’ve also gone right off eating out after seeing chefs or kitchen staff (from nice restaurants) in dirty alleyways having a smoke break.

Aeons ago I did a food safety certificate. First, the importance of hand washing. There we were, sitting around, looking somewhat chipper. The guy running it said, "I'm going to give you a minute to think about all the things you do with your hands in the course of a day. From the moment your eyes open in the morning to when they close at night ~ and if you have children, or pets, or lovers, remember to think about all the things your hands do with them, in the course of a day." And then the bastard looked at his watch and timed off one minute. "Time's up," he said. We were looking a bit green by then, and I was regarding my own hands as radioactive, never mind anyone else's. It was a good few years before I could eat in a cafe or restaurant after that class. But I could wash my hands for England.

I am like this and get put off food and eating very easily.

I had dinner with a friend the other evening who was getting over a cold and remarked whilst eating about her "snotty nose". It put me right off eating.

She also talks about having "the shits" again related to food and it makes me feel so queasy.

Human skin is laden with bacteria, some harmful, most harmless. This is quite normal. Staph aureus is one reason you need to wash your hands. E. Coli is another. For example:

• Staphylococcus epidermidis: A common skin bacteria that can make up more than 90% of the aerobic flora in some areas

• Staphylococcus aureus: Found in the nose and perineum, this bacteria can contaminate food if hands aren't washed before touching it

• Micrococci: A common bacteria on the skin, with Micrococcus luteus being the predominant species

• Corynebacterium: A dominant bacterial genus on the skin

• Propionibacterium acnes: Lives in pores and feeds on sebum, the oily substance that moisturizes the skin

• Cutibacterium: A genus of bacteria that feeds on sebum to help protect the skin

Mobile phones are pretty bacteria laden, as are computers. Alcohol wipes are reasonably effective at keeping down the numbers, particularly important in hospital settings where mobiles are used. Humans are hosts to all kinds of microbes.

Excessive concern with such things can be a sign of OCD.

Excellent post. Remember during COVID when the hand wash signs were displayed? It is a good idea to keep to that procedure before eating, after the loo, etc. You also won’t catch as many colds.

I ate my way through most of a jacket potato with beans once to then find a really long brown hair mixed in with the sauce and potato at the bottom. After I’d already eaten most of it. Felt horrified and sick. Haven’t been back to that cafe ever again. 🤮

Many (not all) employees in these areas receive very little training, do not get treated well, are paid a pittance and therefore have no pride in the job they do. I can't blame them really.

ds(20) works PT in a 4 star hotel as bar staff for events while at uni and has had zero training. He just picks it up as he goes along and says it is ok which I am not sure about as he can be very lacking common sense at times!

I'm just impressed that the woman was able to pluck a chin hair with her fingers rather than tweezers! No matter how hard I've tried, I've never been able to pull one out like that 😆😆

Did you tell the staff/mgmnt? Did you pay? 🤢

I used to have very bad contamination OCD. For many years. Not easy as nurse 😂 I have trained myself out of it OP. It can be done. It involved a lot of averting my eyes, so that I wasn't watching people prepare my food etc, putting the tele up loud/covering my ears, so I didn't know if DH washed his hands, after going to the outside bin.You get the idea. I stopped paying attention basically. I also took citalopram, for 4 years. Now my focus is on more important things and I'm much happier. I hope you get there too OP. I still sometimes think "that's disgusting" - but I can move my mind on quickly. So no spiralling anxiety.

😂

Yes, it's gross and unhygienic.

But, humans have survived for thousands of years with even worse hygiene, just think about the Victorians.

They still don’t do it! People that wear gloves think that’s the hygiene done and dusted! Why it’s far better to wash hands in between.

Life so many things in life... best just to not think about it, and move on.

I never buy food from food vans, anyway. I’ve always been the same, even as a child, as I’m anxious around food, and food hygiene.

There used to be one located by my workplace, and everyone who bought a sandwich on a particular day from said van, ended up with severe food poisoning, with a couple of them ending up in hospital. Couldn’t pay me to buy food from a van.

Yes. I am trying. I used to be able to do it. And I’m still not bothered about dirt - you know, good wholesome outdoor germs like mud and stuff… it’s just evil human germs I take issue with. I basically avoid eating out at all costs. But apparently this is not cool so I’m now in therapy so that I can go out for meals with friends and accept invitations to parties and things… I’m scared. I’ll be honest.

I don't think most people retch at much tbh. It's only since being on MN that I've learned that some people seem to do it regularly. I honestly don't remember ever retching except as a precursor to actually being sick.

Yeah I find this kind of thing gross and it’s why I eat out on very rare occasions. I’d rather prepare my own stuff.

YANBU, this is gross! Unfortunately, I imagine things like this happen a lot. I remember getting breakfast for my team a few years back. The woman making the toast had cut her hand and bleed all over the bread (I hadn’t realised at the time). I went back to the cafe to show the bloodied toast. Of course, this wasn’t her fault as she wasn’t aware, but it was her complete lack of concern that bothered me the most.

It's so gross, especially from food servers

I am exactly the same… I kind of always have been… but it’s got worse. I don’t sit down in other peoples homes either and in holiday lets/ hotels. Getting into bed on holiday is an ordeal and as much as I’d love to just be a recluse, I have 3 DCs who like going out places and going on holidays so I’m in therapy.

Yes, this "affliction" (sorry, can't think of a better word) does get worse with age. It was always there lurking in the background but it has definitely got worse.