Pace Paw Print

I am not someone to judge someone's personal Hygiene habits. What they do in the privacy of their own home is simply a matter of their own personal upbringing and ideas of cleanliness-but, when they are dealing with my food my opinions on cleanliness become slightly more invasive.

Sometime last week on the Pleasantville campus I observed a troubling trend in the Men's bathroom, probably 60% of the people that came through didn't bother to wash their hands, but as I said to each his own, the part that I am concerned with is that two out of three food service workers left without washing their hands. The worker, who did wash his hands, essentially washed one hand (and barely at that.)

Some people may think that this is an overreaction, but here is what the Department of health has to say about Hepatitis A and foodservice, ", food workers should never touch ready-to-eat foods with bare hands, and should carefully wash their hands after using the bathroom, even if the food worker does not feel sick. Food workers should never work while they are sick with stomach (gastrointestinal) illnesses."

The Ohio State University Nutrition department takes this issue to an even further level, explaining that according to the US Center for Food Safety, disinfectant Gels are not even acceptable means of washing a foodservice employees hands. They recommend washing for at least 20 second with an antibacterial soap.

Ohio State also explains, "The CDC says that known food-borne pathogens account for about 14 million illnesses, 60,000 hospitalizations, and 1,800 deaths in the United States each year, but estimates those numbers are much higher from unknown sources, possibly reaching to 76 million illnesses and 5,200 deaths."

It's clear that cleanliness around food is no laughing matter, especially with the recent outbreak of Staph infections on Pace's close neighbor, Iona College.

It is just sad that people who's personal lives we know nothing about, feel that they only have to be safe if someone is watching them to see. I am not saying this reflects poorly on Lackmann or every Chef/Foodservice worker they have; however, the few that do need to be careful.

I used to notice these things and just let them go, but that was before people going to school 15 minutes away from us contracted highly resistant bacteria by sharing water bottles. Hundreds more diseases are transmitted in what the FDA refers to as the "Fecal to Oral" route. It is a good Idea for foodservices workers to be washing not only when they go to the bathroom, but at a steady period of at least once every hour or so, especially after making hand to mouth or nose contact.

Just in case the issue is that these workers don't know how to wash their hands, here is a helpful guide from cleaning 101, "Wet hands with warm running water prior to reaching for soap, either in bar or liquid form. Rub hands together to make a lather. Do this away from running water, so the lather isn't washed away. Wash the front and back of hands, between fingers and under nails. Continue washing for 15 seconds or more. Rinse hands well under warm running water. Dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel or air dryer."

It's not like there will be people sitting in the bathroom watching to see if people wash their hands, but its hard not to notice someone in a white shirt and a chefs hat walk out of a stall and walk right out of the door without even glancing at the bathroom sink.

When people came to me and complained of this issue, I honestly didn't believe, but now I have taken notice and I've put the school on notice. From now on think twice when you think no ones looking, and show some consideration for the student's safety and please wash your hands, and remember you are wearing name plates.

To those of you who are considerate and clean when you deal with our food, which I'm sure is the majority-thank you for taking the extra few seconds to keep our food clean. To the few of you who are ruining it for your more responsible co-workers, you've been warned.

Article Tools