Does America Have Hygiene Rules?

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Lavinia

Well-known Member
I'm in England and I was just watching the afternoon tv movie, which is made in America. In one scene, the owner of a restaurant was holding her dog in her arms while talking to someone. She then put down the dog and started setting the tables. Is this sort of thing common practise in America? Here in Britain, dogs are not usually allowed in eating establishments apart from Guide dogs. Also, a waitress would be expected to wash her hands before placing items on a dining table.
I know this is drama but it should reflect real life.
 

Yes, we have laws about them and health inspectors, fines for infractions. As with most things there will always be those who disregard the regulations. Which is why some people who have worked in establishments where that's common hesitate to eat in them.

As for movies reflecting real life? An owner of a restaurant flaunting health codes is realistic. It happens, she'd probably fuss at her employees if they did the same, but still do as she pleased. We have a lot of 'entitled' people here.

It bothers my daughter and i much more when forensic detectives on crime fiction we watch disregard their protocols. If we like the stories enough we can get past it but not without noting that unfettered hair, no gloves and such would not fly in real life. The errors more often could result in a guilty person not getting convicted but there's always a potential for sloppy forensics (presented in court as if done properly, and so perceived as almost infallible) could convict an innocent person.
 
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The only rule that I'm aware of is the 5-second rule.

It's ok to eat food that has been dropped on the floor if you pick it up and eat it in 5 seconds or less. :giggle:

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The scenario you mentioned grosses me out. No one, especially not restaurant workers, should be playing with their pets then going directly to prepare and/or serve food. I'm not even a fan of people letting their pets come by them when they are at the table. Maybe the animals will take food out of their hands or lick the person's hands then the loving owner might pet them and just keeps on eating...serving whatever (without washing their hands...yuk!). I'm somewhat a germophobe anyway and would not want to eat anyone's food under those circumstances.

I'm also turned off by how food gets handled and the lack of proper hygiene on the cooking shows, which I usually don't watch. But very rarely someone like Rachel Ray might have a guest I'm interest in. I never go in my fridge or serve even a glass of water without washing my hands.
 
Lavinia said:
I'm in England and I was just watching the afternoon tv movie, which is made in America. In one scene, the owner of a restaurant was holding her dog in her arms while talking to someone. She then put down the dog and started setting the tables. Is this sort of thing common practise in America? Here in Britain, dogs are not usually allowed in eating establishments apart from Guide dogs. Also, a waitress would be expected to wash her hands before placing items on a dining table.
I know this is drama but it should reflect real life.
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You are just jealous because of that whole George Washington thing. :):):)
 
Lavinia said:
I'm in England and I was just watching the afternoon tv movie, which is made in America. In one scene, the owner of a restaurant was holding her dog in her arms while talking to someone. She then put down the dog and started setting the tables. Is this sort of thing common practise in America? Here in Britain, dogs are not usually allowed in eating establishments apart from Guide dogs. Also, a waitress would be expected to wash her hands before placing items on a dining table.
I know this is drama but it should reflect real life.
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as to the answer to your question? There are very cheap restaurants here in America which I would not advise anyone to eat in. And they are quite common. We tend to pay the workers there such incredibly low wages that they have exactly zero devotion to respecting any hygiene issues, whatsoever.

It's more of an economic thing than anything else.

And, our big companies so control government that the amount of government oversight and regulation of businesses, including health and safety standards is next to nothing.

So, you have to know the lay of the land. There are restaurants, including the cheap ones, who are run by honorable people who do an excellent job. He have some of those in town. And it is not what you might expect. Some cheap hot dog stands are just run by nice people who care and always do the right thing. We have one of those in town here. It has been here since 1930.

Then, of course, we have high end restaurants. Including restaurants with Michelin stars and all that. And they, of course, are high quality through and through.

If you vacation in America, you really need to connect with a friend here, who can give you a lay of the land. And especially for just general safety issues. Many big cities in America have extremely dangerous neighborhoods which you absolutely need to avoid.
 
Lavinia said:
In one scene, the owner of a restaurant was holding her dog in her arms while talking to someone. She then put down the dog and started setting the tables. Is this sort of thing common practise in America? Here in Britain, dogs are not usually allowed in eating establishments apart from Guide dogs. Also, a waitress would be expected to wash her hands before placing items on a dining table.
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I googled my local laws on it (seems to go by state and county laws) and this is what Nebraska specifies:

Live animal prohibited from premises of food est., except service,
sentry (loose in outside fenced areas), or police or security patrol
dogs.
A service animal is a dog specifically trained for the benefit of the
individual with a disability.
Live animals and live or dead fish bait may be allowed if contamination
of food, clean equipment, utensils, and linens, and unwrapped
single-service and single-use articles CANNOT result.

Food employees shall clean their hands and exposed portions of their
arms immediately before engaging in food preparation including
working with exposed food, clean equipment and utensils, and
unwrapped single-service and single-use articles and;
After touching bare human body parts other than clean hands and arms;
After using the toilet room;
After caring for or handling service animals or aquatic animals;
Except as specified in 2-401.11(B), after coughing, sneezing, using
handkerchief or disposable tissue, using tobacco, eating, or
drinking;
After handling soiled equipment or utensils;
During food preparation as often as necessary to remove soil and
contamination and to prevent cross contamination when changing
tasks;

Employees shall keep hands and exposed portions of arms clean.
Except as specified in (D), food employees shall clean their hands and
exposed portions of their arms for at least 20 seconds, using a
cleaning compound in a hand-washing sink that is equipped as
specified under 5-202.12 and Subpart 6-301.
Food employees shall use the following cleaning procedure in the order
stated to clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms:
(1) Rinse under clean, running warm water;
(2) Apply an amount of cleaning compound recommended by
manufacture;
(3) Rub together vigorously for at least 10 to 15 seconds while:
(a) Paying particular attention to removing soil from
underneath fingernails during cleaning procedure, and
(b) Creating friction on surfaces of hands and arms, finger
tips, and areas between the fingers;
(4) Thoroughly rinse under clean, running warm water; and
(5) Immediately follow the cleaning procedure with thorough
drying using a method as specified under 6-301.12.
To avoid re-contaminating their hands, food employees may use
disposable paper towels or similar clean barriers when touching
surfaces such as manually operated faucet handles on a hand-
washing sink or the handle of a restroom door.
 
Jeni said:
It is a movie .... could u find a similar thing in real life... perhaps
but it would be silly to assume whole country does this based on a movie.
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This got me thinking what kind of ridiculous stereotypes could be conceived about various nationalities if someone only consumed one type of fiction from that country?

For example i've both read and watched lots of films of Agatha Christie's work and Chesterton's Father Brown stories. Based on those one might conclude that beneath a civilized veneer, Brits are a murderous lot! It is indeed foolish and silly to make such assumptions.
 
Ruthanne said:
Most restaurants in America don't allow animals but there are also those that do. I wish there was one I could take my doggie to and have a lunch out with her. My dog is well groomed and very polite.
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To answer the OP's question, there are numerous health laws regarding animals in food establishments. What that movie depicted would be against all health regulations.

In Southern California many restaurants with outdoor eating areas accessible to the street (so patrons don't walk through indoor areas to reach the patio) permit well behaved, non-aggressive dogs.

DH, our little doggie and I go to many eating establishments like that. Just to be sure our pup doesn't piddle where he shouldn't, he wears a washable cloth belly band lined with a sanitary pad while we're there. These days he's usually in a stroller, too, because he's got degenerative spine issues and can't walk long distances.


belly band.JPG
 
JonSR77 said:
as to the answer to your question? There are very cheap restaurants here in America which I would not advise anyone to eat in. And they are quite common. We tend to pay the workers there such incredibly low wages that they have exactly zero devotion to respecting any hygiene issues, whatsoever.
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I absolutely disagree with this. It is not at all common for "cheap" restaurants to ignore health and safety and OSHA regulations. All restaurants are inspected regularly, and are graded A, B, or C, C being barely passing. A grade card is prominantly posted by authorities on the restaurant's front window or door with a huge letter A, B, or C on it. The restaurant has 11 to 15 days to correct any violations.

If a restaurant totally fails an inspection it is immediately closed and the owner's license temporarily suspended or revoked, depending on the violations.
 
Murrmurr said:
I absolutely disagree with this. It is not at all common for "cheap" restaurants to ignore health and safety and OSHA regulations. All restaurants are inspected regularly, and are graded A, B, or C, C being barely passing. A grade card is prominantly posted by authorities on the restaurant's front window or door with a huge letter A, B, or C on it. The restaurant has 11 to 15 days to correct any violations.

If a restaurant totally fails an inspection it is immediately closed and the owner's license temporarily suspended or revoked, depending on the violations.
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same here...
 
hollydolly said:
same here...
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We do have situations here where a restaurant (and other businesses) is owned by a family who immigrated from a country that isn't as tightly regulated. They sometimes have a rough start, but if they want to stay in business, they work hard to comply with all regulations. It isn't easy even for a native American. I know; I was part owner of a small Italian restaurant for a few years.
 
Murrmurr said:
I absolutely disagree with this. It is not at all common for "cheap" restaurants to ignore health and safety and OSHA regulations. All restaurants are inspected regularly, and are graded A, B, or C, C being barely passing. A grade card is prominantly posted by authorities on the restaurant's front window or door with a huge letter A, B, or C on it. The restaurant has 11 to 15 days to correct any violations.

If a restaurant totally fails an inspection it is immediately closed and the owner's license temporarily suspended or revoked, depending on the violations.
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Depends on the location ... glad they are vigilant in your area
I do not believe the ability and follow through on health practices has anything to do with being a cheap or expensive place.... that is simply a false stereotype
 
Jeni said:
Depends on the location ... glad they are vigilant in your area
I do not believe the ability and follow through on health practices has anything to do with being a cheap or expensive place.... that is simply a false stereotype
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If certain locations aren't vigilant, then the authorities and officials are at fault. There have been problems, and arrests made, and some even resulted in prison time.
 
Devi said:
I'm not sure I've ever seen a movie where, no matter what time span the movie covered, people excused themselves for a bathroom break. Lying jerks!

LOL — just joking.
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When i told my DD about this thread her response was -- "Yeah, we really want to see a person go to restroom to properly sanitize their hands without any dialogue or action that serves the plot."

There have been bathroom scenes in movies and TV shows (remember the unisex restroom in Ally McBeal?) But there was always something being said or done that served the story line.
 
Well, now that you mention it, @feywon, I do remember an episode of NCIS when Ziva David entered the men's bathroom to talk to ... Tony, I believe it was, who was using it at the time.
 
Devi said:
Well, now that you mention it, @feywon, I do remember an episode of NCIS when Ziva David entered the men's bathroom to talk to ... Tony, I believe it was, who was using it at the time.
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Yes, i remember that. That's the thing--it is never just someone's necessary functions and hygiene trip---it's conversation or confrontation.
 
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