WEBMD – Every restaurant has to have regular health inspections to stay in business.
But even if one gets a passing grade, chances are you’re going to come into contact with a few unhealthy germs there. Some are more likely than others, so it’s a good idea to know where to watch for them and how you might avoid them.
Menus
Sometimes the germiest things on a restaurant’s menu may literally be the menu. Studies have shown that traces of E. coli and S. aureus (staph) can be found on menus, thanks to their being passed from hand to hand.
Plastic menus are more germy than paper menus, especially if they get wet. Plastic can’t absorb water, so it sits there until it evaporates, which gives bacteria plenty of time to grow. Washing your hands after you touch a menu and before you eat anything, especially finger food or foods that are shared, can help prevent the spread of germs.
Lemon Wedges
They may look pretty and provide a little flavor, but those pieces of sour citrus can spread germs. In tests, 70% of samples had organisms on them, some as many as 25.
Your stomach acids can neutralize most of these, but some can cause tummy trouble. If you have diabetes, have had kidney failure, or get chemotherapy, you could be more likely to be affected by them.
Either way, if you can, it’s a good idea to see if the servers use gloves or tongs to garnish drinks before you order yours.
Salad Bars
As with a buffet, these can be a friendly home for germs. Make sure cold foods are kept cold. Check the freshness of vegetables and fruit too …
