Tag Archives: flu

I was listening to a local radio host the other morning complaining about being in a buffet line when a young boy coughed while filling his plate.  The radio host was asking for listener input as to whether or not he should have said anything to the parent (who was heard telling the child to cover his mouth while she sat at the table).  You can imagine the responses he got for that question!  Everything from mind your own business to tell the manager that some food and utensils need to be replaced.  But I didn’t hear a single listener comment on the sensibility of going through buffet lines during cold and flu season.  You take an inherent risk in catching germs in this environment.  Just think about how many possibilities there are for one infected person to spread their germs to the remainder of diners in one afternoon or evening.  Begin with the door handle to the restaurant, the stack of plates, the serving utensils that never get replaced, the “sneeze guard” that is taller than most children and some adults, and the food itself that is exposed to sneezes, coughs and hands.    If you are trying to stay healthy and avoid catching the flu or other cold viruses, avoiding buffet lines is one simple step.  We all know washing our hands is critical in not passing our germs on to others, so unless you can honestly say that every diner before you in line has taken the utmost precautions, best to steer clear for now.    How do you feel about buffet lines or eating out in general during flu season?  I would love to hear your input.