I have to go to a buffet today, how do I avoid getting other people's germs?

[Bryophyte]

Stop obsessing about things you can't control and embrace the germs. They're all around you. They are the training ground for your immune system. You don't want a pussy immune system, do you?

This.

And don't go to the barffet, piggy.

 

[Raizinman]

We were on a Celebrity Cruise last month and they were taking precautions due to norovirus. The buffets were no longer self-serve, no salt and pepper shakers on the table, and menus were a fresh piece of paper for each person. Yes, each one of those items can contract things to make you sick, it’s not just the tongs.

The tongs are a problem on a buffet, but a bigger problem than the tongs are the kids. Parents let their children go off-leash wild when at a buffet and the kids put their dirty little hands in the food without tongs. Old people are also very bad as they don’t understand germs and will just stick their fingers in things to sample taste things while going through the buffet.

Just so you know, Celebrity requires 5 days without anyone getting GI (Gastrointestinal) sick before it can be taken off of Code Red alert. Keep in mind that this happens even with mandatory Purell hand washing (for everyone) before entering the dining room.

During Code Red, Celebrity requires extra staff at the buffet to serve people. Salt and Pepper are individual packets, menus are one time use pieces of paper. The servers wear gloves and masks. Out of curiosity, when a server handed me an extra fork, I (accidently/purposely) touched her glove. She immediately removed the glove and put on a new one. I was impressed.

Having seen a few of the backrooms of some local buffets (such as Golden Corral), it’s a wonder there are not more outbreaks of sickness. The health inspector cannot be everywhere and we all know many of these inspectors are just bribe machines.

My suggestion for going to a local buffet is to be first. If the buffet opens at 11AM, be there at 10:55 AM to be first in the door. The food will be freshest, all the tongs will be clean and you will have the full selection of food before they run out of something.

Remember, hurry and grab all the food you want and then sit back and watch the kids put their booger crusted hands into the food.

 

[Sulaco]

Have your imaginary girlfriend/wife dish it up for you.

 

[justoh]

paranoid much?

 

[_Rick_]

Latex gloves over nitril gloves.
You eat with the nitril gloves, then put a fresh set of latex gloves on, get your food, and remove them without touching the outside of the outer gloves with your inner gloves.
Should that happen, off to the lavatory, throw away nitril gloves, wash hands copiously, use the paper towel you brought yourself to dry your hands, put on fresh nitril and latex gloves go back to your seat and remove the latex gloves.

I think a handful of individually wrapped nitril gloves and a pack of latex gloves should be enough.

Of course, if you don't lick your own fingers, it's the food itself you should worry about, and not what your hands come in contact with...

 

[BUTCH1]

just bring some hand sanitizer in a squeeze bottle you huge pussy. Get food like a normal human being and then disinfect your hands before eating

This, buy a $.99 trial-sized liquid hand sanitizer, leave at your table, use before touching anything, then eat your dinner.

 

[BUTCH1]

i heard that you can get aids from a buffet

so i never go to them anymore

No, the aids virus cannot live outside the body like a cold or flu virus that can, unless your exchanging bodily fluids with someone at the buffet you won't get aids from eating there.

 

[z1ggy]

We missed you Tommy!!!!!!

How's married life?!?

 

[dabuddha]

No, the aids virus cannot live outside the body like a cold or flu virus that can, unless your exchanging bodily fluids with someone at the buffet you won't get aids from eating there.

Which is why he doesn't do buffets.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Which is why he doesn't do buffets.

Spit won't do it. You literally would need to take fresh blood and apply it to an open wound to even have a chance of contracting it.

 

[Captante]

I guess the feasible thing to do is to wash my hands everytime after I get the food but before I eat. That means I probably have to wash my hands like 9 or 10 times.

Have you considered a small bottle of hand-sanitizer?

Edit: Nevermind I see that's already been suggested

 

[dainthomas]

This.

Weirdo germophobes.

 

[Exterous]

:hmm: He posted yesterday but hasn't updated the thread. I think its safe to assume he died from a disease contracted at the buffet

 

[LookBehindYou]

Don't be a pussy and just go and enjoy the food (as much as possible, it is a buffet...). It amazes me how many people get worked up over so much insignificant stuff that has a very low possibility of even being an issue.

I couldn't imagine going through life worrying about the little shit like germs from a buffet.

 

[Capt Caveman]

:hmm: He posted yesterday but hasn't updated the thread. I think its safe to assume he died from a disease contracted at the buffet

It's his trolling m.o.

 

[Newell Steamer]

I have to go to a buffet today, how do I avoid getting other people's germs?

Don't go to the buffet.

 

[Perknose]

I realize the utensils like the tongs are pretty gross because everyone touches them. Their hands could have been touching their mouth, nose, face, or privates. I thought about holding the tongs with a napkin but that would look too weird.

Yeah, you wouldn't want to come across as weird, Tommy.

 

[manimal]

put the food in your girlfriends purse.


I would also like to put forth an idea for a reality TV show starring tommy, his purse and Dari.


Can you imagine the imaginary shenanigans going on?


wait is dari the guy whos "Friend" assasinated his pregnant girlfriend?

im thinking that guy

 

[Arcadio]

Don't worry and just give your immune system a good workout.

 

[mikeford]

Its always good to know somebody out there is a lot more weird than you are.

Untethered children are the bane of buffets, they touch food, they put food back, and they are NOT aligned with the sneeze guards.

 

[Krazy4Real]

just bring some hand sanitizer in a squeeze bottle you huge pussy. Get food like a normal human being and then disinfect your hands before eating

But that makes too much sense for the OP to understand.

 

[CZroe]

I am very sick today. Absolutely miserably sick. My sinuses are throbbing, my eyes look bruised and feel extremely pressurized, I've got a monster headache, my entire face is sore, and my mucous is yellow.

I'm also at work and haven't eaten anything. I have a coupon in the car for Golden Corral Buffet which is right across the street. Normally, I wouldn't consider eating there while sick, but I fantasized that it could be the very buffet the OP is worried about so I think I'll go there anyway.

Enjoy my germs, OP!

 

[cavemanmoron]

I have to go to a buffet today, how do I avoid getting other people's germs? I realize the utensils like the tongs are pretty gross because everyone touches them. Their hands could have been touching their mouth, nose, face, or privates. I thought about holding the tongs with a napkin but that would look too weird.

Stay at home.

 

[JulesMaximus]

We were on a Celebrity Cruise last month and they were taking precautions due to norovirus. The buffets were no longer self-serve, no salt and pepper shakers on the table, and menus were a fresh piece of paper for each person. Yes, each one of those items can contract things to make you sick, it’s not just the tongs.

The tongs are a problem on a buffet, but a bigger problem than the tongs are the kids. Parents let their children go off-leash wild when at a buffet and the kids put their dirty little hands in the food without tongs. Old people are also very bad as they don’t understand germs and will just stick their fingers in things to sample taste things while going through the buffet.

Just so you know, Celebrity requires 5 days without anyone getting GI (Gastrointestinal) sick before it can be taken off of Code Red alert. Keep in mind that this happens even with mandatory Purell hand washing (for everyone) before entering the dining room.

During Code Red, Celebrity requires extra staff at the buffet to serve people. Salt and Pepper are individual packets, menus are one time use pieces of paper. The servers wear gloves and masks. Out of curiosity, when a server handed me an extra fork, I (accidently/purposely) touched her glove. She immediately removed the glove and put on a new one. I was impressed.

Having seen a few of the backrooms of some local buffets (such as Golden Corral), it’s a wonder there are not more outbreaks of sickness. The health inspector cannot be everywhere and we all know many of these inspectors are just bribe machines.

My suggestion for going to a local buffet is to be first. If the buffet opens at 11AM, be there at 10:55 AM to be first in the door. The food will be freshest, all the tongs will be clean and you will have the full selection of food before they run out of something.

Remember, hurry and grab all the food you want and then sit back and watch the kids put their booger crusted hands into the food.

I won't eat there... or at Hometown Buffet.