What Do The Employees Look Like?
When you’re watching employees prepare food, ask yourself the following questions: Are they wearing (clean) gloves when preparing food? If an employee finishes preparing a meal and handles money, does he or she wash hands and/or put on gloves before preparing the next meal? What do the employees look like overall - are they wearing clean uniforms, exhibiting good hygiene, and, while waiting in line, did you see at least one employee wash his or her hands? If you have reason to do a double-take over an employee’s hygiene, you should probably head on to the next restaurant.
Is Your Server Ill?
Even if you find yourself at the front of the line of your favorite fast food spot at the mall, and all other signs point to go, coming face to face with a server who looks like an incubus of plague should be a red flag that sends you running.
According to the Food Chain Servers Alliance, more than half of fast food workers go to work when ill - and that can put you at risk for catching the latest flu bug or a nasty stomach virus. If you notice that the person who is waiting on you is coughing or sneezing, or otherwise looks under the weather, consider asking for someone else to wait on you. If that isn’t an option, don’t risk coming down with whatever is ailing the person on the other side of the counter.
Is The Kitchen Up To Par?
Most food court establishments have kitchens that are visible to customers. While you’re waiting to order, glance over their food prep area - do you see food items (especially those that should be maintained in a temperature-controlled environment) sitting out on counters? Are the food prep areas clean and wiped down, and have measures been taken to avoid cross-contamination for food items such as poultry? If you see dirty knives lying around at the sub stand, especially alongside now-drying tomato slices that have seen better days, perhaps it’s time to ignore your craving for a hoagie in favor of a slice of pizza.