Why do we use cutlery in restaurants

[Nannyogganny]

I was thinking this recently

Those knives, forks and spoons have been INSIDE thousands of other people's mouths.

I was starting to get disgusted by the thought. I think it is such a weird practice.

I have now bought my own cheap plastic disposable cutlery, and bring it with me

I think ultimately the answer to the question in the thread title @Nannyogganny is that if I don't trust a business enough to have washed up the cutlery properly then I am certainly not eating a morsel of food that they have prepared, or trusting the plates the food is served on. Either they have high enough standards that I can be confident in both the food and the implements, or I am not eating there at all. Taking along your own cutlery and yet eating the food is irrational because if they don't have high standards of hygiene you are much more likely to be getting food poisoning from ingesting bacteria in the food than you would from putting a fork which appears to be clean and dry but theoretically might not have been perfectly sterilised into your mouth.

Oh my God, you actually eat? I can't be doing with it at all, such a vulgar, greedy pastime. It's far more elegant to simply inhale a little dust every few days. Do make sure it's your own dust though, unless you can obtain some Parisian dust of course.

This.
They go through the dishwasher after every use.

Then I recommend you only go to restaurants that have passed their health and safety inspections with high marks. Part of that inspection, according to Food Standards Agency checklist is: “Are separate utensils and equipment used for ready-to-eat foods unless disinfected in a dishwasher? Is the dishwasher in good working order and regularly serviced?” So every utensil needs to be sterilized in the dishwasher, and there must be a dishwasher in working order. A “quick rinse in the sink” would definitely not cut it, and you would face a failed inspection.

SOURCE:
https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/food-safety-checklist.pdf

They can cough and sneeze into a glove you know.... Gloves doesn't mean clean

What makes you think the napkin is clean enough to make the cutlery cleaner by wiping it with it?

No because they sterilise everything it seems!

Maybe we should just pick up the food with our trunks, like elephants do.

Ex waitress here - from my younger days.
Cutlery is put though a large pull down dishwasher - at a high temperature.
After that, cutlery is rinsed in a solution of water and vinegar and shined dry with a clean, dry tea towel.
Comes up a treat - having been washed twice.

@CotswoldsCamilla I mean, I suppose it’s nice of you to mix the germs around and give them some exercise? While the link in question is about knives, it still holds true: wiping it with anything, even a sanitizing cloth:

• Does not remove all soil
• Does not provide enough contact time to sanitize
• Spreads bacteria from surface to surface

Those who work there are required to not only use either chemicals or boiling water (or both on many industrial dishwashers), but also to ensure the cutlery is in contact with the sanitizing agent for at least 30-60 complete seconds. And then there’s the fact your napkin may be less clean than your cutlery already (easier to fully sanitize metal than fabric).

SOURCE:
https://nobliecustomknives.com/when-must-a-knife-be-cleaned/#Wipe-Down_Instead_of_Cleaning

But I think you’re very thoughtful and kind, giving the germs an outing like that! I’m sure they appreciate it ♥️

Oh Dear
How Precious

They are sterilized in a dishwasher you're being weird

Not anymore. There are dishwashers and also the clean cutlery is then soaked in boiling water before being polished

No different to beds in hotels or toilet seats in public toilets or hotels, i would say paranoia is worse for people than germs

Door handles, trolley handles, anywhere public you sit, you could overthink it forever. Not just the cutlery what about the plates?

No

How do you cope with breathing? Every time you breathe in, the oxygen / hydrogen / nitrogen / other compounds will have been inside other people, plants, animals?

Yes but how old are you 😅

How can you bring yourself to breathe air??? It’s been in other people’s lungs - yuck! And some of it has been in people’s bums as a fart - ewwwww 🤢

Every drop of water you drink has been through a dinosaur, a rat and billions of humans.

Why take your own cutlery and not plates? Why take food from a kitchen you havent seen inside of? Why dont you cook your own and eat of plates with cutlery you trust? In other words, stay at home.

As PP have said to pass EHO inspections, all tableware must be washed and sanitised.

If you feel icky about it, speak to the serving staff. Generally, if the staff are happy to eat there then its a good place.

People must get a nice giggle watching you pull out your own utensils. Could be a skit on the telly,

Most of the water you drink has been consumed by at least 4 other creatures before you.

Your morning coffee has probably been through a dinosaur.

Your thoughts are clearly illogical and irrational. Though what is worse is carrying disposable plastic cutlery. Why don't you carry your own steel cutlery? This way you can wash it the way you want at home and it is environmentally friendly. If you want to use something, at least be sustainable!
It would be good to consider therapy to uncover the reasons for your unfounded fears. It will certainly improve the quality of your life, as I'm sure such thinking patterns affect other aspects of your behaviours and life too.

Very good point about using your own reusable steel cutlery. Not least because then at least you know that a) they are actually clean (there are likely to be more germs on the plastic ones than those in a restaurant) and b) you are not consuming microplastics.

I take my own straws when I go out because the cardboard ones collapse after a couple of minutes, but they are steel and I wash them at home.

I have a set of steel cutlery, and an older re-usable plastic set in the boot of my car for festivals and culinary emergencies, though not of the batshit kind cited by the OP.

I also have snakebite bandage. 🐍