New food safety law means California bartenders have to wear gloves, too

[Gingersnap]

New food safety law means California bartenders have to wear gloves, too in Bars, Cocktails, Controversy, featured

Last week, Scoop brought news of a new amendment to California food safety law that bans bare-handed food contact in restaurants. It’s a regulation that has received the scorn — not to mention eye-rolling — of chefs and diners alike, even though the state has agreed for a soft enforcement period in the first half of the year.

This week, the Los Angeles Times smartly points to another area affected by the new law: bars.

Since “food employees shall not contact exposed, ready-to-eat food with their bare hands,” bartenders must wear gloves or use tweezers or other utensils when touching ice, garnishes or similar ingredients that go directly in the drink. The Times reports:

“Technically speaking, these rules do apply to bars,” says Angelica Pappas, a spokeswoman for the California Restaurant Assn. “It’s been a common question we’ve heard … so there may be more information to come on this in guidance documents from the health inspectors.”

Well, that will certainly take some of the romanticism out of twists or a toothpick-spiked martini olive. Also, California cocktail photography will never be the same.

Bartender people: Your thoughts?

This is ludicrous.

SFgate

[Novaheart]

Why? Seriously, is there a reason?

[Gingersnap]

Why? Seriously, is there a reason?

Same one as always: somebody might get scared of getting sick. In a bar. In San Francisco.

Jesus wept.

[Adam]

[Adam]

Same one as always: somebody might get scared of getting sick. In a bar. In San Francisco.

Jesus wept.

Oh shit. I'm going to giggle over this all night long.

[Celeste Chalfonte]

Twenty or so years ago, there was an outbreak of hepatitis A in SF, predominately affecting people who were in no known risk group. It was eventually tracked back to a waiter in a restaurant where the waiters prepared the salads and put the garnishes on the plates after the entree was prepared. All it takes is one food server who doesn't wash his hands. Not that gloves would be much help, since they put the gloves on with the same nasty hands.

[Gingersnap]

Twenty or so years ago, there was an outbreak of hepatitis A in SF, predominately affecting people who were in no known risk group. It was eventually tracked back to a waiter in a restaurant where the waiters prepared the salads and put the garnishes on the plates after the entree was prepared. All it takes is one food server who doesn't wash his hands. Not that gloves would be much help, since they put the gloves on with the same nasty hands.

Then make the salad-making people wear their nasty, germy gloves when they prepare salad plates for the bar menu.

If the alcohol content can't kill the bugs on a celery stick in my Blood Mary, it's the End Times anyway.

[Novaheart]

There is a much worse situation I have been complaining about for decades. The trend in low to mid priced restaurants was to get rid of the busboys. Behind the scenes, places like TGIFridays were requiring the waiters to do more in the way of plate prep, making salads, dishing soup, placing garnishes, slicing bread, etc… Food servers handle money; they aren't supposed to be touching the food. Food servers touch food, they aren't supposed to be breaking down bus pans , scraping plates into the garbage, etc… take your pick. There is a reason that waiters are supposed to be immaculate. There is a reason that restaurants have traditionally had full service kitchens, a busboy, a host, etc… I know that people want low prices, but these cuts weren't made to keep prices low, they were made to increase profits. Those profits have come at the risk to the public.

Making people wear gloves is a poor substitute for having sound cleanliness procedures and supervision.

[Frostbit]

You people need to go out and buy an immune system or a bubble suit. GEEZ!!

[Gramps]

You people need to go out and buy an immune system or a bubble suit. GEEZ!!

I agree but.....

Years back, my wife, daughter a I were in a Pizza Hut in Arnold Mo (no longer there, wiped out by the Great Flood that brought Clinton and Gore to Arnold Mo for Christs sakes to feel our pain).

We had ordered, I went to the restroom and one of the guys who was in the 'kitchen', took a piss and walked out of the restroom without washing his hands.

I went to the counter, asked for the on duty manager, advised him that if that -----> guy touches my pizza on any of the ingredients that will go onto my order, cancel it and I'm out of here and never coming back... he just took a piss and didn't wash.

I was standing there as he walked over, said give me your apron and hat, clock out and you are terminated.

[Frostbit]

I agree but.....

Years back, my wife, daughter a I were in a Pizza Hut in Arnold Mo (no longer there, wiped out by the Great Flood that brought Clinton and Gore to Arnold Mo for Christs sakes to feel our pain).

We had ordered, I went to the restroom and one of the guys who was in the 'kitchen', took a piss and walked out of the restroom without washing his hands.

I went to the counter, asked for the on duty manager, advised him that if that -----> guy touches my pizza on any of the ingredients that will go onto my order, cancel it and I'm out of here and never coming back... he just took a piss and didn't wash.

I was standing there as he walked over, said give me your apron and hat, clock out and you are terminated.

Newsflash at 11:00

Cranky old man shot dead in parking lot. Details unclear but the shooter was found to have spotless hands.....

[Gramps]

Newsflash at 11:00

Cranky old man shot dead in parking lot. Details unclear but the shooter was found to have spotless hands.....

I wasn't about to eat any pepperoni that some guy, who within minutes had his dick in his hand, put on my pizza...

So shoot me.

I'm not a some sort of antiseptic freak... not afraid of 'germs'.... hell, I sliced open my thumb and index finger on Sat slicing roast chicken, just used some shit that is sold to stop bleeding when you cut a dog's toenails too short and marched on...

But that was just too much.

[Frostbit]

I wasn't about to eat any pepperoni that some guy, who within minutes had his dick in his hand, put on my pizza...

So shoot me.

I'm not a some sort of antiseptic freak... not afraid of 'germs'.... hell, I sliced open my thumb and index finger on Sat slicing roast chicken, just used some shit that is sold to stop bleeding when you cut a dog's toenails too short and marched on...

But that was just too much.

Did you notice open sores or a rash on his dick?

[Adam]

Did you notice open sores or a rash on his dick?

[Gramps]

Did you notice open sores or a rash on his dick?

No.
I didn't require a short arm inspection.

If you want to play with it... I will try to find out who he was and give you the info.