Choosing your food court option can be daunting. If you’re walking past the counter person who isn’t wearing his gloves or glancing over the condiments counter that looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in weeks, there are some telltale signs that this quick service establishment isn’t for you:
Do You See A ServSafe Certification?
Safety first should be the motto for all dining establishments, and those who abide by federal and local laws will have the documentation to prove it.
All food service establishments, regardless of whether they are quick service or full service, are required to display a ServSafe Certification somewhere visible to the public. In a busy food court establishment, this certification will be “in plain view” behind the counter. They are also required to display their most recent food inspection, conducted by the local governing authority.
If you don’t see this certification, or a recent food inspection report, you should bypass the business.
Is It Clean?
There will come a time of day when even the most strict of food establishments can expect a certain amount of chaos. For a Starbucks, for example, that may come sometime between 7 and 9 a.m. as baristas are slammed with their morning rush or a burger joint between 11:30 and 2 p.m. during a lunch rush.
During these times, you should expect that there will be some tossed napkins or straw wrappers, empty creamer carafes, and even some (fresh) messes or spills around the condiment stands. However, what you shouldn’t expect to see is crusted-on, days-old ketchup, dried-on stains, or any messes that look like they’ve been sitting for hours on end. If you find yourself staring at dirty counters, messes in the food prep areas, or old, overflowing garbage cans, keep trucking to a healthier food option.
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.
Check Your Reviews
There are a number of sites available (Yelp, for example) that offer user reviews on food service establishments. If you find yourself at a mall across the country, let’s say, and are unfamiliar with the restaurants in the food court, it helps to hop onto these sites and check out recommendations. Not only might you get great feedback on dishes or spots to try, but you’ll also get plenty of advance warning if there are spots that are notorious for leaving customers ill with any kind of regularity.
Check The Ice
Food court restaurants that have self-serve soda machines may seem like great options for filling up your soda and getting a caffeine jolt, but you should do your due diligence. Soda machines that aren’t properly or regularly clean will develop a visible, sticky residue, and may even have mold or mildew present. If you see any of these signs, it’s a red flag that the establishment isn’t following food safety and sanitation protocols. If the restaurant looks safe otherwise, definitely skip the fountain soda and opt for a bottled beverage instead.
Go Solo
With the volume of customers that pass through a food court, meaning the number of hands touching common areas, you should opt for a food court establishment that has individually-wrapped utensils or utensils passed to you by (healthy) employees from a clean package behind the counter. Restaurants that have bulk items available for customers to grab put you at a greater risk of picking up a viral infection that was left behind by a previous customer.
Now that you know the signs to look for, buyer beware. Keep some order in the food court. Your body will thank you for it.