Make dining out safer

Simple things like the serving plates, water jug or bank notes may be the reason for that bout of food poisoning

Sometimes, you may end up with an upset stomach or food poisoning even after eating at a ‘pricey’ fine diner that appeared to maintain good hygiene standards. That’s because most times, it’s usually not the food but smaller things that carry the bug. Serving plates Diners these days want to stand out not only with their food, but also the presentation. A host of unconventional cutlery and plates make it to the table, one of them being wooden boards. While wood is naturally good at resisting germs, one needs to allow it to dry properly after washing it to stop bacteria from multiplying. In a busy restaurant, this may not happen. So, it’s safer to ask to be served on a plate instead. The water jug Water that’s served in jugs with ice, a slice of lemon and mint, also contains bacteria. A study in the UK showed at around 70 per cent of lemons in restaurant drinks show signs of microbe growth. The bugs include faecal bacteria and E.coli. The staff doesn’t generally wear gloves for most kitchen activities, including cutting lemons. And lemons aren’t peeled or cooked, which kills off many bugs. According to the same report, ice can be a hazard, too. Tests last year found that ice cubes from branches of McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Starbucks, Cafe Rouge and Nando’s all had more bacteria in them than samples of water taken from the lavatory bowls! “This may be because there are rotas for the regular cleaning of toilets, while ice machines can be left for ages in between cleans, as most people assume they are too cold for germs to survive. In fact, ice preserves most organisms — including E.coli,” said the study. To be safe, make sure you ask for water without ice, lemon or mint. Money changing hands A study this year found there are more germs on coins than on toilet seats. Same for bank notes. They are kept in warm wallets and pockets — perfect germ incubators. Also money passes from one hand to another. Who knows along the way what hands it was in? So, make sure you wash your hands before you settle down to eat your meal for which you just paid.

Published Date:  Sep 06, 2014