careless employee
eating out
food handling
food safety
plates on the floor
restaurant
restaurant unsanitary
unseen germs
Another reason we are cutting out eating out.
@GardenGerty (160702)
United States
November 27, 2011 8:37pm CST
Today, on our way home, we went to a particular national chain buffet. Food was good, hot, tasty, and the place appeared clean. We happened to be sitting toward the front, where the buffet was. This worker came out, was adding to the disposable plates, and he dropped a stack. The majority of them landed in a stack, with one on the floor. About a third of them fell off in a couple of small bunches. He stacked them up and placed them on the serving table. ALL OF THEM!!!
The man across the aisle from us looked at me, and I looked at him, and I knew what I had just seen. I told another more mature looking person, who seemed to be a shift manager about the plates. She told the girl at the cash register to remove the stack.
The thing is, the other customer could see the cashier better, and said she did not throw the plates away.
The other thing is, no one even thought to wipe down the counter where the plates were placed directly from the floor. I have contacted the corporate offices from the online form to tell them about it, as well. I will not go back there to eat when I am traveling.
The man across the aisle from us looked at me, and I looked at him, and I knew what I had just seen. I told another more mature looking person, who seemed to be a shift manager about the plates. She told the girl at the cash register to remove the stack. The thing is, the other customer could see the cashier better, and said she did not throw the plates away. The other thing is, no one even thought to wipe down the counter where the plates were placed directly from the floor. I have contacted the corporate offices from the online form to tell them about it, as well. I will not go back there to eat when I am traveling.16 people like this
47 responses
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
28 Nov 11
You just never know when you go out to eat about the cleanliness. I would have done the same thing! It puts people's health in danger. There is this guy here called Don Dare and every night on the news he gives the scores that local restaurants got on their health inspections and what it was about them that made them pass or fail. I have been utterly shocked before at some of the reasons. It's a good way to know where you can eat safely too.4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
30 Nov 11
I think that would be an interesting reporter to follow.
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
28 Nov 11
Hi Garden, if i saw this kind of situation, i would not dare to eat in that same place anymore. In fact, i rarely eating out recently since the food prices in my area here had gone very expensive. Besides that, i am trying to avoid eating too much the msg, which available in majority of food, which was prepared in the food shop. So, for health and money reason, i prefer to cook my own food. Indeed, it is more economical to prepare our own food. Besides that, we can stay more healthy by eating the food which we cook by our own.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
30 Nov 11
I have money issues as well. I really do not have it to spare. I think the food I make at home often tastes better than what I get in a restaurant or from a vendor.
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
28 Nov 11
styrofoam plates and they should have gone straight to the trash.
3 people like this
@jennyze (7028)
• Indonesia
28 Nov 11
I heard many grueling stories about eating in busy places like this. Some said they do not wash the plates well, some said they do not clean the vegetables before cooking it, they even mix the previously cooked dish (almost bad) to the freshly cooked dish...
We have to be wary when eating out...
We have to be wary when eating out...4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
28 Nov 11
All these things are dangerous food practices. I would rather eat at home, but it is hard when traveling.
3 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16762)
• China
28 Nov 11
They went so far as to let customers use the disposable plates that had fallen off on the floor.What annoys people the most is that they didn't yet move the stack when you told the shift manager what had happened.The cashier totally feigned compliance.The national chain buffet might has had some publicity,but they didn't pay attention to hygiene to such an extent.I think that they will soon shut down.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
28 Nov 11
I have been contacted now by two members of higher management for the chain. I have even been offered free meals if I would go back, but I do not think I will do so. I could see why the shift manager could not stop what she was doing to deal with it, and the cashier did not see them go in the floor. On the other hand, I cannot see what they do in the back of the kitchen.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16762)
• China
29 Nov 11
There is no such thing as a free lunch.They wanted to draw you in and let you shut up, but they have another guess coming as you are an honest person.
@rencarl (620)
• Philippines
28 Nov 11
My goodness! that food chain has a big problem to solve. number one is the issue of sanitation and number two is the is personnel behavioral problem. i hope the food chain's management will make a move regarding this problem. Sanitation is very important because infectious diseases like Amoebiasis and Salmonella are food-borne.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
28 Nov 11
Within an hour of my e mail to corporate I had an e mail back saying that they would talk to the restaurant location and they would re train them. This morning I was told they would speak to the employee involved, and offered two free meals there. I will not go there, it is an hour's drive away and I cannot see what goes on in their kitchen.
1 person likes this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
28 Nov 11
Once when my husband and I were traveling, about 15 or so years ago, we stopped at a local chicken place to eat. While we were looking at the menu options, hubby went to the rest room. When he came back, he said, "We are not eating here. Let's go." He had seen the man who fries the chicken, with flour on his arm up to his elbows enter the rest room and leave after doing his business with the flour still intact on his arm! If you notice something, you have to look out for yourself and there is nothing wrong with reporting the offences! That's what the health department rules are for.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
28 Nov 11
When I worked in an eatery no one ever trained not to wear your apron to the restroom or on break. It was a young man who had worked elsewhere who emphasized this. I still see people where I do food demos wear aprons and stuff into the restroom. Our demo company says do not even wear your hat into the rest room. These small things add up.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Nov 11
Where I am, they would be shut down for that. You would think they wouldn't want the health department on their backs. Our health Dept, in NY State really goes after places that don't do things in a safe and healthy manner.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
28 Nov 11
If I had reported them to the Health Department they would probably be shut down. It is easier to find a way to contact the corporation than the Health Department. If I thought that this was a common practice, I would have waited and reported to the Health Department tomorrow, and I still may. I received an e mail back from the corporation in less than an hour. My e mail, and response, were forwarded to someone, I think up the chain. The person who responded stated she was going to call the store immediately and require a training session. I still could contact the Health Department tomorrow. I think the reason the mgr. did not stop and deal with it herself is that she was temping the hot baths and making sure the food was being held at correct temps.
2 people like this
@margerydaw14 (735)
•
28 Nov 11
yeuchh, i can't think of anything worse. Sometimes it doesn't bear thinking about what happens in the kitchens in the back of these buffets and takeaways. And you know that when you left that place, those plates went straight back on the pile.@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
29 Nov 11
I am hoping not. There was another customer who saw it as well. He seemed pretty much a no nonsense type of guy.
2 people like this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
28 Nov 11
That is pretty disgusting! I wonder how many times restaurants just take something that fell on the floor and give it to a customer anyway. It wouldn't surprise me. I think I would have at least taken the plates to an area where it wouldn't be visible to the customers if I planned to not throw them away. Not to say that I wouldn't throw them away, but I would try to be a little more obvious about it. I have thrown away disposable items that fell on the floor before and I will do it again because that really grosses me out.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
29 Nov 11
I really hope they were properly disposed of and I would hope to have not been a victim myself.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
1 Dec 11
You are totally right. I hope I am never a victim of this kind of activity, but I am sure that is more common that is often believed.
@missybear (11391)
• United States
28 Nov 11
Just think about all the stuff that goes on in the back of the kitchen that you can't see
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
30 Nov 11
This same chain restaurant has a place in my town. It does not have a buffet, but it does have a kitchen you can view from the lobby. I like that.
@alottodo (3056)
• Australia
28 Nov 11
I did work in the catering business for many years!...but when my family suggest going out to dinner I just say let's eat at home at least we know what we are eating! I won't say all restaurant are bad but you really need to check where you are eating!
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
30 Nov 11
It is interesting what you will do when you know what goes on. I like the convenience of someone else cooking, but mostly I dislike the price, and often the food does not taste as good as I imagine it to taste.
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
28 Nov 11
Eating home cooked meals is more economical and we often are healthier if we do that.
3 people like this
@Rosa26 (2618)
• United States
28 Nov 11
Oh that was so bad, and the worst part is that it happen everyday but we don't see it,because of this I believe in cooking my own food, I don't trust in the others to eat, I have eat like two or three times in Mac donald and I had stomache during all the day,and if I eat in chinesse buffet it is the same, so I prefer eating my own food.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
28 Nov 11
I do find that my digestion is better if I eat food that I have cooked myself. I have quit going to some restaurants because I get sick afterwards.
3 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
29 Nov 11
yep people can be so dirty it is awful. But I also hate when macdonalds washes the floor and mops all around you will you are eating your food, the bacteria is flying all over the place. They say they are required to do that by law.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
29 Nov 11
I dislike the little sweeper thing or a broom going when I am sitting there. I almost feel that the mopping might keep the dirt down, but the sweeping always seems to make stuff fly. You know, this discussion is encouraging me to eat at home even more.
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
28 Nov 11
All three of my children did or is working in restaurants and one reason I limit my eating out are the stories I heard. I now rarely go out to eat, I much prefer to pack my own food, preferably made by me, then to purchase any food from anywhere. My eyes are being opened more and more, just heard some gross news about bread, making it to where I will probably never buy bread again, but will make it myself..It's scary what the FDA allows, and what employees get away with...
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
30 Nov 11
I have worked in restaurants myself. As far as bread and things go, that is why we have all those preservatives and additives. They keep things from showing that we would not like.
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
30 Nov 11
I know in one local restaurant, my husband found out they only had the kitchen cleaned once a week. Talk about gross, I never ate there again after I heard that..
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
28 Nov 11
I have pretty much stopped eating at restaurants but not because of things like the plate incident you saw. I welcome any and mostly all germs, they make my immunity system stronger. I'm not a germophobe and if my spoon falls on the floor I wipe it off and keep eating. I don't eat out anymore because of the expense and the unhealthiness--I feel better if I don't eat processed foods, which a lot of restaurant food is. Chemicals, preservatives, growth hormones, steroids, the whole deal is in restaurant food. Drew Manning, a fitness trainer, gained 70 pounds in an effort to understand his overweight clients--he did it by abandoning fresh and freshly cooked foods, eating in restaurants and fast food places and giving up water for soda and not exercising. Eating out was one of the most effective ways to gain weight fast!
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
29 Nov 11
I think I saw an interview of him. I have found, ironically, that what is intended as a treat usually does leave me feeling less than healthy. I am eating out less and less. Of course money is an issue as well.
@jazel_juan (15746)
• Philippines
28 Nov 11
That is a major no-no right? in any restaurant or any chain services that serves food.. that is already contaminated. Wow they should be shut down
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
29 Nov 11
The young man may get disciplined, or fired. I hope it is not a trait of all the employees.
1 person likes this
@curmont (343)
• United States
29 Nov 11
I have worked in the food service industry most of my life and I will tell you that I absolutely refuse to eat out. My employees are always on their best behavior when either myself or the regional manager are in the building but I have seen them more then a few times while reviewing security tapes being quite slack when their are assistant or shift managers in the building. I have fired people for this behavior but it seems no matter how many times the faces change the behavior always remains the same. I am not sure but I think it may have something to do with the typical age and wage that you find in the food industry. I always have to laugh because when they order food for themselves on their lunch break they always have a hundred special requests to ensure their food is made properly and fresh but for some reason do no feel the need to serve others the same quality of food that they expect. I bring my food from home everyday and much to the dismay of my children we do not eat in restaurants after all the things I have seen I simply do not trust them.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
29 Nov 11
I have done food service a few times in my life, and things I did when I was younger or processes I saw would never fly now. I also have done mystery shops of fast food establishments. Sometimes I could see where the security cameras could not. I have been told to print out the e mail from a higher up manager and I will receive two free meals. No way will I do that, because the e mail makes it very clear that I reported someone.
1 person likes this
@breezors124 (65)
• United States
28 Nov 11
I have worked in food service for pretty much my entire working life and that is just plain nasty. When you start working somehwere that is in food service they usually train you in how to make the place clean and everything, and the thing is wouldnt you think that it would be common sense for them to just throw out the few that fell on the floor and made direct contact instead of having to go through that whole ordeal and then having to throw away the rest and then in the end that fact that they didnt throw out them all because there was no way of knowing which ones were ont he floor by then is just the worst thing of all. Managers at places like that pretty much just make it seem as though all they care about is the amount of money they make, not how the customers view there establishment or how the customers feel. Its just plain wrong.
I personally would never eat there either. Ever again and I would telll everyone I know not to eat there either.
@GardenGerty (160702)
• United States
29 Nov 11
In a way, I regret that I did not wait to see what was done when she finished her task of temping the steam table. She was prompt to tell the cashier to remove them. In a way, I wish I had thought to walk over and throw them in the dumpster myself.
