Dirty $$$$
Let me just start off by saying that I’m pretty anal about germs….
Yesterday I stopped to get donuts on my way to the dome for our live broadcast. The woman who was waiting on me had gloves on. She took my money with her gloves on and then proceeded to begin picking out my donuts. That means that my donuts would have been teeming with germs. NO THANKS!
I don’t normally open my big mouth, but I couldn’t stand it! I asked her very politely to please change her gloves. She gave me the dirtiest look I’ve ever seen. I really don’t think I was being unreasonable. What do you think?
Have you ever been in an awkward situation like that?
Click here for an article about dirty money!
May 8th, 2008 at 10:55 am
If you contact the health dept they will tell you that wearing gloves and money is an acceptable practice.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Wesley,
To be honest I am the same way. And to be honest them gloves by law should have been changed and they should not have even tried to touch the donuts with them. So they should be glad you are the one that stopped them and not the health dept. They would have been in alot of trouble.
Actually you were too nice I would have asked to speak with the manager as that is very gross, and then if the manager was not available I would have call the district office to complain.
Have a great day.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:56 am
I know exactly what you’re talking about Weslea! My boyfriend and I went to get lunch one day and a deli shop and they weigh the meat to make sure they don’t use too much or too little. The girl made my boyfriends sub then she went to make mine like normal. I asked her if she could change the sheet on the scale. I told her I am allergic to ham even though I am not. I couldn’t help it! What if I really was allergic to ham and one of those people that doesn’t speak up? One of those things I think people should just do!
May 8th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I had a similar situation at our local grocery store. I had ordered some sliced meat at the deli and the girl was in the process of cleaning the counters with gloves. She proceeded to stop what she was doing, wait on me, and slice the meat with the same gloves she was cleaning with (she just put her dirty rag down). I said to her “you are going to change those gloves aren’t you?” and she replied “there is no solution on the rag, only water!” I stood my ground and repeated my request. She did change them but with an extremely poor attitude. I, too, am not eating something that may be contaminated because of someone else’s lack of common sense.
May 8th, 2008 at 11:12 am
It is not the germs, as much as it is the dirt or what ever on someone’s hands that have handeld the $’s prior to you. I agree with you. Change the gloves.
May 8th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I cannot belive the health dept. doesn’t recognize that germs can be transmitted by money. Of course they can…germs can be transmitted by shaking hands and the money is in your hand when you give it to the cashier.
This was also an interesting article, thought I’d pass it along, which includes a study of germs in paper money.
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=07c0a52f-2c9b-469a-ba85-ae0fa1d27396&k=76062
May 8th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Germs and dirt are too separate things. I don’t care if money carries germs(when has the government been wrong before?). Think about it at this level…
Someone handles poop, they sanitize their hands with one of those gels, the germs are dead. Guess what - IT’S STILL POOP and I don’t want to touch you!!!!!! Just because it doesn’t have any germs doesn’t mean it’s not dirty!!!
I work in retail food and the dirty looks people get when they ask for a glove change just boils down to poor cust service.
May 8th, 2008 at 11:20 am
So why do they wear gloves in the first place?
May 8th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Wesley,
You are completely right! The fact that changing gloves is not required by law means NOTHING !! It’s still disgusting. The absurdity of the notion that ‘money doesn’t carry germs’ as many of your callers claim is overwhelming! They mentioned that money is non pourous, so it won’t carry germs. Well, toilet seats and door knobs don’t have pours either, but would you want someone handling them and then handling your food???!! i doubt it. you did the exact right thing. no one should be expected to keep his/her appetite after seeing that. and she gave you a dirtly look not because she is frustrated that the public doesn’t know the law, but because she was being lazy. COME ON PEOPLE!!!
i’m with you girl!!!
May 8th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Hi Wes,
I am in complete agreement with you - however not for germ reasons but for DIRT and SANITARY reasons. The gloves (in my opinion) should ONLY be on when handling the food. Who knows what the worker may have handled before your money even with those gloves on! They may have touched their face, touched a kleenex or who knows what!!! I agree with you and I understand that the Health Department may not require the gloves to be changed. Why have the gloves on to handle money? Because they now it’s dirty too!!!
May 8th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Even if there are not germs on the money. Money is filthy. Ask any bank teller.
What would they say if you ran your hands over the floor and then gave them food. Yuck!
May 8th, 2008 at 11:40 am
What about people that work in the “entertainment” industry that are getting money put in their G-strings, that money gets spent too! I don’t want someone touching money that was near a sweaty crouch and then handling my food, it makes me not want to eat out ever again!!
May 8th, 2008 at 11:41 am
I agree about changing their gloves. I am one person who will bend over and pick up money off the ground (finders keepers) and use it to pay for purchases. I don’t know if a car drove over it, or an animal urinated on it, but I want whoever is handling food to change their gloves.
May 8th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I just have to say that I think it is absolutely disgusting for a person to handle money and then handle your food. I cannot believe that the health dept says there isn’t any germs on money!! I don’t know about you but the last time I held money in my hands I had a black residue left on my fingertips. It is disgusting. And if money doesn’t have pours then how in the world do germs stay on non pourous surfaces to begin with? What would be the use for any antibacterial material if germs don’t stick?? I agree with you, and I am totally disgusted to think that this happens on a daily basis!!
May 8th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I totally agree. Some of the employee’s that work @ Charlie Riedels in Canandaigua and Victor do the same thing. Stop in sometime during their busy time and watch them. I noticed that most people don’t even speak up but I do and you get a dirty looks from the girls. Don’t know why?
May 8th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Okay, for one minutes lets say we believe that money isn’t covered with germs and that you can’t get sick from it. But you do/can get sick from hand to hand contact. Imagine this, you hand your money to the cashier, your hand touches their glove covered hand. Any germs that you may have on your hands, have now transferred to the gloves. Then the cashier reaches for that donut that you have requested..BAM we have transferred germs, for all of us to share!
May 8th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
yes i agree with you. money may not carry germs but bacteria and virius are different. what about the lady or man who just cleaned up behind their dog or cat who has worms. remember eggs from animal worms or even ringworms can live out side for along time just waiting for someone to step on them to find a new home meaning you.
May 8th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I completely agree. Wherever I have worked that has involved both food & money I have always had only one glove on for food and a bare hand for handling money. It’s supposed to be that if you touch anything other than food then you have to wash your hands (this includes touching your face or hair, etc…) or change your gloves which we all know does not happen. I don’t think that cleanliness is as enforced as it should be.
May 8th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Greetings,
I used to work in the food industry, too - and I never wore gloves when I handled money AND I frequently changed my gloves. It’s disgusting to not and I can’t believe the worker gave you a dirty look when you asked her to please change them.
I like what Samantha said (11:51) - I agree with her.
And, ok - so what if it’s not a health department “rule” - if a customer asks you to do something (within reason)- do it. Asking for a change of gloves is SO reasonable. If the worker refused - or maybe even gave me a dirty look, I would walk out. You’re paying them and those gloves are not that expensive!!
Not to even mention that the workers hand sweats inside those gloves - EEWW.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
I handle a lot of cash & where some of these minorities dig there cash out would piss off the pope. Come on why must they tuck there cash under there boobs & yes have seen some dig there cash out of there under wear . And what about the cash that smells like peppermint Ky gel.
I was thinking how the army handied off some blankits to the Indians that carried smallpox & think also about how the antrax that was spread after 911. I truly think the health dept. is full of crap to think cash is clean.I asked former concilman Stevenson what he thought about terrorist using cash to spread biological weapons & he said it would be horrorable (he taught science at Jefferson high school when I went).
Personaly I’d have asked for my money back from the donut shop or tell them to put them where the sun don’t shine….I rest my case.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:21 am
I hate to bust you on this, but you handled your cash first and then handled the cash that was returned to you, and here is where your honesty comes in, you never got a chance to wash your hands before reaching in and grabing a doughnut, right?
May 9th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Kevin, I’m a chronic hand washer…so I won’t dig into my food (even in the car) unless I have a chance to wash my hands. Money grosses me out!
Thanks for the comment!
May 10th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Weslea,
I listened to this broadcast and have had similar experiences myself. I heard the restaurant man call in and mention that if someone complains he does infact go for customer satisfaction–on that note–what ever happened to holding ourselves to higher standards? IS the FDA the be-all-end-all answer to all our food issues? They have put their own foot in their mouth there–if the money isn’t wet?? Ok, so their toilet handle isn’t wet either, but I still want their gloves off and their hands washed before handling my food! And that is a health law (I hope) right? Restaurant owners/managers really need to teach employees the laws and what their individual practices are for two reasons–so that they know the laws AND so that they are taught valuable life lessons about seeking higher standards in life and not merely meeting the minimum requirements to just barely get by… Oh, if dry money doesn’t show evidence of food contamination why not just save the earth a plastic glove and use the money to carry the ice cream cone to you, or the sandwich over to the plate and then put it in the drawer–it’s safe right!?! the FDA said so! That’s too ridiculus! If I were a restaurant manager, I wouldn’t even allow employees to even repeat that it’s legal! Craziness.