Do you avoid salads/ salad bars at restaurants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buffets are not gross. Of course I hope everyone washes their hands and that disgusting things do not happen. For my own precaution while there, I do avoid touching my face and use hand sanitizer when I feel I need to. Have never become sick from going to buffets.

I've never gotten sick from a restaurant or buffet either, but then in pregnancy, I contracted salmonella. I think the immune system is really a bit down during that time.

[Anonymous]

No problem eating from salad bars. However, we are religious about using alcohol hand sanitizer after coming back and before eating. You are significantly more likely to get sick from the serving utensils and restaurant menus that you are from the salad bar food. Restaurant menus and common serving utensils (like those on the salad bar) are among the most common causes of spread disease in the restaurant industry.

[Anonymous]

Do those of you t hat avoid salad bars also avoid places like CHOP'T and SWEETGREENS?

[Anonymous]

Yes. I avoid them because a lot of salad bar produce is treated with sulfites as a preservative, and sulfites make my allergies go nuts. That scares me more than the listeria, because I know 100% I will get sick from the allergies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Do those of you t hat avoid salad bars also avoid places like CHOP'T and SWEETGREENS?

Yep. I'm the allergy poster above. I love Sweetgreens' salads but I've eaten there twice and both times I was sick as a damn dog for 1-2 days afterward - itchy eyes, nose, throat, ears, headache, fatigue, etc. It makes me sad. I love that stuff!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Do those of you t hat avoid salad bars also avoid places like CHOP'T and SWEETGREENS?

Yes. Because I prepare all my raw food myself.