This is a rather Gross fact but Please read this one thing before you go out to eat.

[BlueJazz]

One of my friends is a Bacteriologist. She told me something today that was studied for 2 months.
Please take one of those anti-bacterial wipes with you the next time you eat out.

The Menu in almost ALL cases were found to be loaded with more harmful Bacteria than anywhere else in the Restaurant...even the toilet.
I trust this woman...She tends to downplay germs and all that stuff but even she was surprised at the above findings...

I thought about it and said to myself: "Yeah..I never have seen anybody wash those things"

Yuck.

[Paulie]

1. I remember a line that most bathrooms are cleaner than kitchens

Because you don't wash chickens in the toilet. Ask your friend if there is some truth to that.

[BlueJazz]

3. Actually, I have asked her about that stuff. She's said stuff like "Meats are filthy, wash them".

She taught me to wash down the kitchen counters and sink with diluted bleach, then water.

[LisaL]

7. You shouldn't wash your chickens.

The germs are just getting spread around.

[BlueJazz]

14. I know what you mean. She doesn't wash meat like most people. She puts chicken in..

...a glass bowl that's filled with warm water and the bowl is in the sink. After she's through, she's washes the sink.

I understood what you meant though..most people splash the water and stuff all over the damn place !

[In_The_Wind]

2. So, next time:

I'll pick something from the menu, go wash my hands (avoiding the door handle as I exit the ladies room) before I taste my drink.

[HarveyDarkey]

4. Chilling truth about the ice in your drink which is covered in bacteria

Dirty ice is being served at almost one in three pubs, restaurants and coffee shops, putting customers’ health at risk, a study suggests.

Bacteria found on hands, including some associated with failing to wash properly after visiting the toilet, have been found by experts from the Health Protection Agency.

Tests on ice, ice machines and utensils carried out at 88 establishments found that 30 per cent showed evidence of poor hygiene.

Details were published after a recent report revealed that the number of people experiencing tummy upsets has surged by 50 per cent compared with the 1990s.

Some 17million cases occur each year, caused by a variety of sources, leading to 11million lost working days.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2036682/Chilling-truth-ice-drink-covered-bacteria.html

[In_The_Wind]

5. That's another reason I'd rather eat at home.

[Marie Marie]

10. Same with that lemon wedge they put in your drink.

How many people handled that lemon, which is rarely washed, before it ends up in your drink or on your plate. But again, that is what a healthy immune system is for. Most people can fight off these bacteria. Now for the immuno-compromised, that could be a different story. Still gross to think about so I try not to and just enjoy my meal.

[Scuba]

27. This is why I always order a wedge of lime!

[Marie Marie]

29. Touche sir.

Way to beat the system.

[sir pball]

12. As an industry pro

Yeah - the ice machine is HIDEOUS. I recall hearing once that it's dirtier than the toilet at your average restaurant.

That being said, we at least try to be reasonably clean with the rest of your food...and to paraphrase Anthony Bourdain, "reasonably clean" in a pro kitchen is beyond anything you can achieve at home (short of gratuitous use of bleach and flaming rubbing alcohol). IOW, even when I sling a chicken breast around casually, it's more in an inherently sterile (e.g operating room) environment than even your sparking-granite bespoke kitchen. We have quat sanitizer on tap for a reason...you really have nothing to worry about from the food.

But (even though I drink quarts of it a day) ya might wanna order that soda no-ice..

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. But, strangely, I've never become sick after eating at a restaurant.

[Fearless]

8. Here's one more gross fact...

You don't get sick from a lot of this bacteria because it isn't found in large enough quantity. Just because it's present doesn't mean it can make you ill. For instance, when was the last time you became ill after touching menus at a restaurant? Or drinking a soda with ice? Or any of the other things? It's very rare. It's not to say that the bacteria isn't present. It is. And it's present on your body too. Quantity is the key part though.

[LiberalElite]

9. 1 more gross fact - at the bank

eColi has been found on ATM keypads.

[Demo_Chris]

11. The money you use to pay for the meal might be dirtier, but there is a solution...

Send me your cash, and for a reasonable handling fee of only 15% I will return it to you in sanitary condition.

[B Calm]

13. My wife freaks out over things like this. She is constantly

wiping things, especially grocery cart handles! But I never seen her worried about the menu.

[Phentex]

15. That does not gross me out at all...

I'm too old to die young. Harmful bacteria is the salt of life!

[BlueJazz]

16. I was more worried about the Republican Bacteria.

[Phentex]

17. or god forbid

rub elbows with a tea bagger!!!!!

[Myrina]

18. The more antibacterial wipes/lotions we use, the lower our natural immunity becomes.

So I don't bother with those things. Haven't had a cold or debilitating flu in at least 5 years.

[HappyMe]

19. That's pretty much what I'm thinking.

I have had colds, but they weren't knock me out colds. If you start worrying about every surface everywhere, you'll spend your life (and money) wiping down the universe.

[BlueJazz]

21. I understand. The only reason I posted about the bacteria was the report said that Menus...

...contain usually 400-600 times the amount of bacteria.
I just had never thought about the damn things being that loaded with "Goodies"
EEEEWWW...

[840high]

28. Thanks for making

that point.

[pipi_k]

20. Germs are everywhere

I take precautions in the public bathrooms...washing my hands, using paper towel to turn off the faucet and to open the door.

Always wash my hands ASAP after being out and about.

I don't think I'm obsessive.

And actually, since I stopped using cash, I haven't had but one head cold in the past five or six years, and even that wasn't too serious as I do nasal rinsing and raw garlic.

For people with normal immune systems, a little bit of germs is OK...even necessary.

Although, yeah, it's really gross to think about what's floating around out there.

[DebJ]

22. If the menu itself doesn't get you, the meal just might... excess sodium, fat, sugar

and who did what to it when they made it? The guy getting paid minimum wage to be on his feet all day?

Eating out is like bunji jumping.

[BlueJazz]

23. Quite true. I know some people on this forum would say: "I've never gotten sick from eating out"

Well..good for them. I've had friends that HAVE been sick from restaurants.
...and twice in 2 years I've been blessed with "The Runs" after eating at 2 separate seafood places. I know it was them 'cause it was the only food I put in my body that day (s)

LOL!..I won't go into details.

[NightWatcher]

24. The dirtiest thing around...tv remote in hotel rooms

I doubt most housekeepers ever sanitize those and everybody handles the remote with dirty hands.

[DebJ]

25. ewww that brings some disgusting possiblities to mind n/t

[Incitatus]

26. That doesn't surprise me, but I haven't been sick from eating out in years.

And it was from bad chicken wings at a cheap cafe.