Eating out & takeaway meals

[TimeForDinnerDinnerDinner]

I know many people are now happy to eat out at restaurants, purchase street food, have takeaways, etc.
For me, it seems too soon, but I can't wait to eat out again.
May I ask what gives people the confidence to accept food prepared by others?

Why not ? It's cooked. They're not sticking their hands into the food. I've never caught anything off takeaway / restaurant food yet so I don't assume I would do now.
I've had takeaways throughout and nothing has happened.

For most of the food it would need to be contaminated after cooking, which limits the risk enough for me to be comfortable. I also presume they practice decent food hygiene practices usually.

We've been having regular takeaways. I understand that if you somehow ingested the virus your stomach acid would kill it. The risk is when you breathe it in or get it in your eyes.

I've therefore felt that eating food prepared in a good standard restaurant is a fairly modest risk. I do however take it out of all the packaging, throw the packaging away and then wash my hands before eating

We’ve been having takeaways throughout (I’m kind of hoping our local gastro pub keeps them up!).

I’ve been on the side of cautious about covid but I’m happy my risk of contracting it through takeaway as very low. I don’t think there’s been any real evidence of mass surface transmissions and it’s easy enough to decant any food, bin the packaging and wash your hands/wipe surfaces.

I think you’re more likely to get food poisoning than covid from a takeaway (which I’ve only ever experienced once).

It’s down to how at risk you are generally I suppose. I don’t want to catch covid and will avoid it if I can but I also think I’d get over it.

I decided against takeaways for about the first 3 weeks and then some local takeaways were doing street deliveries. I wanted to support them. I haven't eaten out yet but just haven't had the chance rather than avoiding. I can't wait to eat out soon!

I’ve had takeaways all through lockdown and went out to eat last weekend and sat outside. It was glorious.

May I ask what gives people the confidence to accept food prepared by others?

Unless you cook everything from scratch and get your food entirely from farm shops or your own allotment you are eating food prepared by others.

Anything processed or packaged in a factory or bought in a shop has been handled multiple times.

I am careful where I buy takeaways from and have found the two places I have been to eat out meticulously clean.

I have not been having takeaways and have not been out. I would only worry if I got one so am cooking everything myself. On the plus side I have lost 4lbs in lockdown

Thanks for you comments, all really helpful. It's reassuring to hear some of you have been enjoying takeaways during lockdown with no problems. Yes, I do tend to cook most things from scratch. I feel that's lower risk.

A question: The risk is when you breathe it in or get it in your eyes. Isn't there also a risk if the virus enters your mouth? My problem is worrying that if the food handler or chef coughs or rubs their eyes during the final stages of food prep you'd eat their food none the wiser. They do stick their hands in the food when chopping, kneading, etc, so there's risk there too.

I'm assuming they can't wear face coverings whilst preparing food or they'd melt, so that's also a concern.

Is it best just to not think of these possible issues??

I’m happy with takeaways but not eating inside a restaurant.

I went to a cafe with my dd last week it was lovely to be " out" it wasn't very busy the staff were great and lunch was delicious. We obviously have to do things that make us comfortable but I think we need to start living a little bit more.

@TimeForDinnerDinnerDinner

Thanks for you comments, all really helpful. It's reassuring to hear some of you have been enjoying takeaways during lockdown with no problems. Yes, I do tend to cook most things from scratch. I feel that's lower risk.

A question: The risk is when you breathe it in or get it in your eyes. Isn't there also a risk if the virus enters your mouth? My problem is worrying that if the food handler or chef coughs or rubs their eyes during the final stages of food prep you'd eat their food none the wiser. They do stick their hands in the food when chopping, kneading, etc, so there's risk there too.

I'm assuming they can't wear face coverings whilst preparing food or they'd melt, so that's also a concern.

Is it best just to not think of these possible issues??

The food you buy in the supermarket has been touched and handled by tons of people. In the nicest possible way I think you're overthinking it. If you wanted to avoid all possible food risk you'd need to grow everything yourself.

If you're going to worry about the what ifs though, are you really going to enjoy it , or are you just going to worry for the next two weeks that you've caught something? I'm extremely sure you won't, but will you enjoy it if you think you might ?

We have had a few takeaways. We pay online. It’s left on the step. I wash my hands after handling the packaging. You can’t catch it from food you eat. I think it’s pretty safe that way.

The cafe we went to so happened to be open plan they were wearing face masks the tables were far apart.

We have also had takeaways throughout.

I can’t get worked up about things like takeaways, for me if the virus was so contagious that we could catch it from someone touching food we’d all catch it from supermarket food/packaging anyway! At some point we have to accept an element of residual risk will be part of life going forward.

Brill!
Thank you all - lots of interesting & helpful points.
I do want to enjoy takeaway meals again soon, I so miss them! 😭

I read that the risk was very, very low. Less than going to the supermarket for example. So that was good enough for me. We had them throughout lockdown and they were a real treat and got me through really.

It’s all about risk assessment.

The thing I can’t understand is why we all have to wear masks in shops in case we cough or breathe on each other, yet the girls in the chippie two feet away from a bag of chips are breathing all over it but not wearing a mask.

WTF is that all about?

Is it not the case that everyone in shops is to wear a mask, staff or shoppers? (I’m in Scotland btw we have legally had to wear masks in shops for weeks now). I just don’t understand the rational.

Restaurant staff are trained in hygiene. I'd rather eat in a restaurant than go to some garden party with sandwiches prepared by non-professionals (assuming such a thing was allowed these days!) And right now no restaurateur in their right mind is going to want to risk being associated with a Covid attack if there is any way they can avoid it. Staff will be being watched.

Our chip shop has masks I'm in Scotland too they have had them on weeks I wouldn't go to a chippy if they weren't wearing a mask.

There is a bigger risk from the salt and fat content than from covid. But that risk is there all the time.

the girls in the chippie two feet away from a bag of chips are breathing all over it but not wearing a mask.
This is the sort of thing I've seen that worries me about eating out.
I've also heard that the risk of infection is low when it comes to food, but when I see some people's slap dash attitude to food serving I wonder what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to the prep.

Because I'm not particularly scared of catching coronavirus is the simple answer for me.

I'm fine with the occasional fat and salt content !