AIBU to think open bakery items in M&S are unhygienic?

[Guthealing]

Went to m and s on the way home - it was busy. I was absolutely shocked at the bakery area and then nearer the front of the store a table with unpackaged loaves of bread ?

As it was after school there were children there and I saw 2 touch some of the pastries , people were looking at them talking and breathing all over them and one woman coughed 🤮 the loaves of bread at the other side were being picked up and put down , a child was moving them about, how can this be hygienic??! Why is the bakery area not covered in some way? I usually go to Waitrose and their bakery items are in a cabinet at least. M and s isn’t cheap so why are they not more hygienic!!!!

How would the “ kids nasties be baked off”?! The bread is already baked when it is exposed to all and sundry - don’t know a pot you but I don’t double bake my bread/ baguettes/ croissants etc.

I'm sure if there was ever a public health incident due to contaminated bakery goods, some rules would be brought in. Presumably there hasn't been so no such regulation is considered necessary.

The poster was talking about a post where schoolchildren had baked mince pies and all had a turn at stirring the mixture - which would have happened before it was baked.

I never realised how many people were squeamish about home baking, until I joined MN. I used to bake with my kids when they were young and give their teachers cookies or homemade truffles, at christmas. it never occurred to me that they might be repulsed, or throw them away....

Op your right they should be covered. Some people nails grubby then people handling food or bakery.. no thanks

Yeah this is what would bother me, kids carry all sorts of germs/illnesses

We were talking about children handing goods (mince pies in this case) BEFORE being baked in the oven at 180C

I’m sure there must be rules stating people should not be touching good without tongs and that unwrapped goods should be covered.

God the kids mince pies sub chat here must be one of the most joyless things I’ve ever seen on Mumsnet

Yeah but I'm going back to the original post where kids are touching already baked goods

OK.
Your comment was added to a conversation about children making mince pies at school. Just a quoting issue.

There are only 2 people who have said they are unhappy about the children's mince pies.

I'm not sure what the environmental health rules are, as my local M&S, Co-Op and Sainsburys all lay them out in the open. I guess they're okay with it or they'd make them change it? I used to run a cinema that had open containers for pick n mix, EH said it was okay as long as they were covered after closing and people only used scoops/tongs.

@Fizbosshoes

haha yeah I can guarantee they wouldn’t have been eaten.

Ill never know, but hopefully not every teacher was squeamish about home baking...after all, not everyone on this thread would be put off...

Maybe on here, but at the school gates it was generally agreed by the vast majority of mums, that we would all buy, but not many would be eaten.😉

It was not done with any malice, but when 50 five and six year olds little hands have all had a turn at delving in the mixture to have a good squelch about, I think it was quite understandable.

@Fizbosshoes

I know loads of teachers and none would eat something homemade given to them, not in a million years

Really? ... you cant look at many threads on here. 😆

God I ate LOADS of stuff made by kids at primary school.

Same thing on most supermarkets.
The other day I saw two huge blue bottle flies sitting on the cinnamon rolls at Waitrose (yes, the type who loves also landing on shit). Pretty disgusting.

😃😄😁

I won't buy any of the open bakery items anywhere- you don't know if people have handled them, sneezed over them etc.

Having said that, the same could be said of a buffet, but depend on where you are, there are either staff observing or if at a party etc you can see the itger guests and what they are doing.

I'm with you, OP. Open bakery gives me the ick.

This didn't use to bother me that much but these days, its a massive no-no. Even in M&S I've seen bad manners. And some parents seem to have forgotten the 'Don't touch!' rule that was brainwashed into our heads. Lots of people are genuinely grottier and disrespectful these days. I only buy tesco fresh bakery as it's all wrapped.

Agree it’s pretty gross. Always think the same about pick a mix open sweets, the amount of times I’ve seen kids stick their hands in those 🤢