Pretty sure it’s been researched and confirmed the Covid outbreak started from animals sold in a market in China. Oh, and bird flu. I don’t know that “Asia” is the epitome of food safety standards you think it is.

Anonymous wrote:The reason food is packaged for takeout is so that the hygiene of the delivery person will not place it at risk.

We already have standards in place for wearings gloves and hair up. If they are not being followed, tell the manager or report it to the health department. Around here, the health department definitely inspects.

I reported an issue to the manager of one local bakery (staff member took my cash while wearing a glove, then handled food after without swapping gloves) and the manager was horrified and apologized profusely. People in food service are trained, usually with the ServSafe course, and they know better.

Maybe its just me but i feel better when all the food service folks are wearing masks and their hair is put away.

Try the UK. No sneeze guards or covers on food in outdoor markets sold from containers exposed to the open air. Unrefrigerated prepared sandwiches on shelves in delis.

I agree op but the us is dumb and doesn't care much about food safety anymore. It would also "offend" certain people to have health/cleanliness standards. I dont understand how we dont have A through F rating (or closed down) like do in part or NY and CA this seems so easy and so basic instead of having to do massive research just to see what food safety violations they have through each local county or city. Its mint boggling easy things this country can so but they choose not to.

^^ after not agree.

Regulation = bad. Even worse agree the 20th.

OP went to Tokyo and Singapore and feels qualified to opine on the hygiene standards of all of Asia.

This sounds like a solution in search of a problem.

Get your mysophobia under control, OP.

Are there a lot of people in Asia with dreadlocks? I'm truly asking - I've never been there.

Because the owners would have to spend money and also probably pay workers more.

If we just had compliance and enforcement for ones there are.

The reason food is packaged for takeout is so that the hygiene of the delivery person will not place it at risk.

We already have standards in place for wearings gloves and hair up. If they are not being followed, tell the manager or report it to the health department. Around here, the health department definitely inspects.

I reported an issue to the manager of one local bakery (staff member took my cash while wearing a glove, then handled food after without swapping gloves) and the manager was horrified and apologized profusely. People in food service are trained, usually with the ServSafe course, and they know better.

No because letting people express themselves is more important than food safety.

It's the culture, OP. I'm from Japan but have mostly lived in Europe and the US. You just cannot impose those standards on a hygiene-naive population like these westerners It needs to be ingrained in you from a young age and reinforced by your environment. You need to have seen your grandparents switch out their regular indoor slippers for special "bathroom" slippers every time they pee

After traveling to Asia recently, I was struck by how consistent and impressive the hygiene standards were across the food service industry. Workers at all levels—from fast food spots to high-end restaurants—wore masks, gloves, and hair ties, with no loose long hair or dreadlocks. Even delivery people and convenience store staff, like those at 7-Eleven, adhered to these hygiene practices.

It wasn’t just about the food but the entire experience. Delivery drivers were clean and presentable, and it gave me so much more confidence in the quality and safety of what I was consuming. Compare that to what we often see in the US, where such standards are rarely enforced, and it makes me wonder: why don’t we mandate similar hygiene practices here?

Wouldn’t it make sense to require food service workers and delivery drivers (like Uber Eats or DoorDash) to follow stricter hygiene protocols? It seems like an easy way to reduce contamination risks and enhance trust, especially in industries where cleanliness is critical.

What are your thoughts—should the US adopt similar standards across fast food, coffee shops, fine dining, and even delivery services? Would it improve your experience?