I know what you mean Roco.
As much as I like watching Melissa, of $10 Dinners, Rachael Ray, and the English sex goddess, Nigela, they are forever brushing their hair out of the side of their mouth, or just pushing it back.
Ponytails would do wonders!!!!

Having worked in a food manufacturing facility, hairnets for women and men, and beard nets for men (obviously LOL) and always washing and sanitizing our hands, these things really bother me.

This is why I stopped watching the food network on a daily basis When I took cooking in school the first rule was a hairnet!!

What about Paula Deen, she's always licking her fingers, or messing with her dogs!

I notice that hair thing, too. I also notice on Iron Chef or those timed contest shows sweat running off them like there's no tomorrow all the time bending over what they're cooking. And they even talk about sweating so much. Double ick!

Ewww, on one of Anthony Bourdain's shows, he literally had drops of sweat dripping off his nose while cooking. Hub and I decided we will never eat where he cooks.

One suggestion is to write to Food Network, but then in many of both fast food places and regular cafes the help is not nearly as "clean' as they use to be. I think it is a attitude that they really don't care due to the wages and other problems.

I even gag at the pet food commercials where Kitty prances on a table or countertop or the 'healthy dog' cavorts in a kitchen.

My dogs eat in the kitchen from their own bowls as do my kitties.. and my kitties eat on the counter because if they didn't the dogs would get their food.... so I keep a spray bottle of peroxide by my sink....

The folks that come to visit my home are not hoyty toyty, and have pets of their own, so no problems there... My pets live here, and my guests do not... so my pets come first.. and that is the way it is in my friends homes as well...

I have grown up this way and am now quite old, and in pretty decent health.. so I say... whatever floats your boat... do it..

tsaho

Yippee Country Sunshine...you expressed my thoughts perfectly.

Rachael Ray, Ina Garten and Paula Deen do this all the time - since I'm not eating the food, I don't even pay any mind to it!

Paula Deen also licks her fingers and utinsils while she's cooking, AS DOES Ina Garten - as long as it isn't MY food, let 'em have at it!

Just a thought, recently I either read in the magazine or it was discussed on one of the shows, that most of the food was thrown away with the left overs given to some of the shelters. Regardless, they should show cleaner preparation habits.

Seriously disturbing for me is going into anyones home who has cats that are allowed to walk on the counters..OMG that is sooooo bad.

I have also noticed this about the hair and really think it's disgusting....I am also owned by 2 inside cats, that sometimes, likes to eat in the living room with my hubby...And I've often said,jokingly, in this house, hair is a condiment, but the fur kids do not have the run of the counters and tables.....

Fourty years ago, when working as a waitress one summer, the boss made me wear a hairnet and a hat. I had long blond hair way past my shoulders. I'd pin up my hair, twill the hairnet over the back, and add the hat. Never had a hair out of place. It did feel 'heavy" however,

"Seriously disturbing for me is going into anyones home who has cats that are allowed to walk on the counters..OMG that is sooooo bad. "

Not if you keep your counters sterile and clean with peroxide.... I do that even when the cats haven't been anywhere near the counters... just habit to keep things clean...It sure beats having folks sneeze or cough or smoke in the kitchen (or anywhere inside the home) and have all that bacteria flying through the air and attaching itself to everything within reach... JMHO

tsaho

The Food Network and the cooking shows are all about entertainment........not a follow me step by step process. I recently ate out and had a hair in my cole slaw.....Didn't finish the slaw......but if that's the worse thing that ever happens to me. I'd say I'm doing A-OK. PS the Manager gave me $10 in credit for my next .......The little honeys have their boobs hanging out over every thing they cook and I hear a lot of complaints but if that gets people's attention, what do I care.......It's about entertainment......and I don't have to eat their stuff....

I certainly have my fair share of things that bother me, but I think we overdo it on sanitation. It is hurting our health. Handwashing and basic soap and water pretty take care of most stuff. I'm not going to sweat the rest. It builds immunity. The people I know with the most health problems tend to be those people who take cleanliness to excessiveness.

My cat(s) aren't allowed on the counter normally and the current one obliges but I don't get paranoid about it if it happens. They're far cleaner and less bacteria laden than many things people take for granted. I get grossed out when people set babies on tables and counters with their always leaking diapers. And I don't want my plate anywhere near where most womens' purses have sat without spraying it down with Lysol at least. Those things are generally filthier than a dog's butt.

I don't like people tasting with the stirring spoon either. People who are wiping/scratching their noses, rubbing their eyes while cooking. Might as well scratch your butt and crotch too. And when I see food handlers handling cash, that bugs me.

If the above stuff bothers you, you better stay out of Restaurants. You have NO idea what goes on in there!

I am and always have been a hand washing person/fanatic....so I don't have many food issues along those lines. I feel I owe it to those I cook/care for the make sure my hands are clean but I don't think everyone is that careful. When I was being treated for lung cancer and doing chemo, one of the biggest worries is to catch all the germs floating around when your immune system is non-existent. I can tell you that because of my hand washing, I am getting close to the 3 year mark since I had surgery and chemo and I haven't had a cold, flu, or any virus that goes around in the area. I believe it is because I an so careful with my hands and when I do my hands, I always make sure to wipe my mouth and nose too.

I'm with Joann fla....better not eat in restaurants! It's just a cooking show. Mostly for entertainment. Don't think you'll be going to any of their houses to eat. I wash my hands before prepping but I do use them to mix meatloaf or bread dough or whatever I need to use them for.

I keep my kitchen clean, and knowing the cats eat on the counter, I do use peroxide several times during the course of the day. Their bowls are not on the counter when preparing food, and they know not to get up there when I am cooking... it is a matter of proper training the pets. I too wash my hands thoroughly when cooking and if I do use a spoon to taste the food, I place it in the sink after. That is just a habit from having owned a cafe in the past. Many of those habits are carried over into my every day life.

tsaho

My Grandmother always said "you have to eat a peck of dirt before you die." I figure I'm at least half-way there.

Cynic, I'm with you regarding the leaky diapers and women's purses. I recently read about how much fecal bacteria is on a grocery shopping cart. (No kidding - google it) Ugh. And what about the kitchen sponge which is reportedly the number 1 dirtiest item in a home? (google that one too).

Handwashing - I'm with Ruthie on this one. I carry a small pocket hand sanitizer in every purse.

Everytime I read one of these restaurant food threads, I won't eat out for a month :(

Speaking of shopping carts and all the germs........
I will be listing some "Shopping cart covers" on Ebay after April 19. These are for adults not the kiddy seats.
Just thought you might be interested in them.