Salad Bar Anxiety (restaurant, grocery store, vinegar, buy)

[Amelie90]

I went to a grocery store today that has a lot of nice food bars. I don't really worry about getting stuff from the hot food bar because I know I'm going to heat it later anyway so that should kill any germs. I generally avoid grocery store salad bars, but today I got some olives and I'm kind of afraid to eat them because I'm worried about possible contamination. Am I the only one who worries about this kind of stuff?

[tangelag]

You are not alone. Many years ago when I learned that the covering of a restaurant salad bar was called a 'sneeze guard', that was enough for me. Never looked back.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

You mean all the snotty nosed little kids who pick their nose and then reach up and handled the food? The people who take things out and then put them back? The people who pull off 3-4 cups and run their fingers inside each one as they put back the ones that they aren't going to use? The shuffling sneezing people who don't look aside while they sneeze?

I don't buy at the salad bar, but I've seen them do it at the bulk bins. I only buy from the bulk bins that have dispensers. Otherwise I go to the back and buy full unopened bags.

I will say, I have never heard of anyone getting sick by buying from a salad bar at a grocery store. Aren't those olives in some sort of brine? Brine is disinfecting.

[Amelie90]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

You mean all the snotty nosed little kids who pick their nose and then reach up and handled the food? The people who take things out and then put them back? The people who pull off 3-4 cups and run their fingers inside each one as they put back the ones that they aren't going to use? The shuffling sneezing people who don't look aside while they sneeze?

I don't buy at the salad bar, but I've seen them do it at the bulk bins. I only buy from the bulk bins that have dispensers. Otherwise I go to the back and buy full unopened bags.

I will say, I have never heard of anyone getting sick by buying from a salad bar at a grocery store. Aren't those olives in some sort of brine? Brine is disinfecting.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. I just ate some so I'll hope for the best.

[evening sun]

If people saw what went on in commercial kitchens, they'd starve, if they let it get to them.

[weezycom]

Originally Posted by Sweet Like Sugar

Really? That sounds too good to be true. I just ate some so I'll hope for the best.

The biggest part of brine is vinegar. That kills most anything.

[mainebrokerman]

i eat at the salad bar at least twice a week for close to 30 yrs and never had an issue

i wouldnt worry about it.....
there's more fecal matter on door knobs....doors ..buttons on elevators , shaking hands...than at a salad bar


sugar....look at this way...you will be building up your defenses....

[eureka1]

I wouldn't worry about it.

[Hedgehog_Mom]

I don't think it's a huge risk with olives, because of how acidic the brine is.

Personally I can't eat from salad bars or buffets because of the risk of cross contamination and my food allergies, but before that became a problem, I ate at buffets with my parents pretty often...my dad worked as a restaurant manager for many years and had very strict rules about food safety at home when I was growing up, and he never had any concerns about eating at a buffet.

[charlygal]

I eat from salad bars all the time. You're worrying about nothing. What are you afraid of? Do you eat in restaurants?