I'm I right to feel vaguely nauseous that the butcher....

[handlemecarefully]

used his bare hands to scoop out my minced steak from the container and weigh out a portion for me?

Or does it not really matter, i.e. will any germs get killed during dry frying?

If I remember correctly I don't think envriomental health would have a problem as long as there is a hand washing sink in the shop and it is used frequently.
Sorry do those who are disgusted by a butcher touching meat with his hands never eat in restaurants? How on earth do you think food is cooked?

Umm doesn't really trip off the tongue though does it!

If it falls into the food it is easily recognisable and won't get merged into your cottage pie or whatever..

I wouldn't want the butcher to rootle with MY arse before he had washed HMC's mince off them...

Yuck at plasters - IIRC it's because plasters can fall off into the food. Blue ones are easily spotted.

I know, I concede I may be going ott, it's just the thought of it. I don't normally have a weak stomach, I see rotten things everyday in work but I don't put it in my mouth

seems most people are saying it's ok so maybe nothing to worry about but I couldn't.

have to go now in case anyone starts recounting 'the other time something gross happened'.

I think Carmenere that the point is - most butchers would use those little glove things or some sort of utensil. If they don't the old mind starts ticking over that perhaps they have a rather slack attitude to food hygiene generally.

Sigh, credit me with a bit of commons sense. I do realise that food is prepared with (hopefully clean) hands in restaurants

I think I'm used to proper butchers using thier hands. Gloves seem like a Tesco meat counter kind of thing.

moondog! I knew this would start - tell me that is definately an urban myth

all I'm saying HMC is don't be afraid of your food because the butcher has handled it. The truth is that as a professional person who runs his own business in a market totally annihilated by supermarkets the chances are that he is conscientious. Be much more worried about the oiks who are working on a production line making ready meals and the like.

Yep chefs are supposed to wear blue plasters so it is spotted if it falls into the food they are making. But go to any good restauarant and I bet the waiting staff won't be wearing blue plasters because they look HIDEOUS and it drives the chef (if he is good) beserk!

Ab,I don't think it is though.
I distinctly remember reading it about 5 years ago.

Also read something unspeakable in Big Issue once about how mites and bedbugs feast on er.. semen that seeps into mattresses or is wiped off onto tissues and left under beds.

Nais.

Exactly Carmenere.
I would gladly eat a bit of my butcher's snot if it meant he continued to operate.

aaaaaaaagggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

stop it, do you want me to starve?

can't eat fish anymore as I heard recently that a woman found a worm in the flesh of a fish and that apparently its NORMAL! has anyone heard of that?

Ab, of course it is!!
Get real lady,these are animals infected with parasites just like we are.
Swordfish is the most parasite ridden but cod high on the list.
Means nowt.

Ok I am going to have to retire from this thread with a dicky stomach, having read about Moondog's willingness to eat a bit of butcher's snot ...

Thanks all - I will eat the offending meat, but I may have to drink some wine first to drown out my delicate sensibilities

The wine is an excellent idea, HMC. Surprised no-one mentioned it earlier

You surprise me HMC.
Never had you down as one od such delicate sensibilities.

Well I guess we all have our little foibles

OMG

I was looking forward to going to a BBQ shortly - this thread has ruined my day.
I'll now have to clean the entire house and get rid of all the tissues under the bed

moondog, you're bold

It appears that mixes of copper, silver and nickel have a useful disinfectant effect. Hence the tradition of cowboys keeping a couple of coins in their water bottles.

What germs are you afraid lurk on his hands? Will they really kill you or give you a dodgy tummy? Or is it purely psycological?

Just like some people won't touch the flush on a public toilet or even a door knob in your office. Consider the handle of your fridge ... ooooh, they are everywhere!

Now there's a trick not to encourage your cowboy obsessed 5 year old to copy - lest the nation suffere a series of choking accidents!

But very interesting!