How Safe is Dining Out?

You find that perfect restaurant to take your significant other out to. You hear it's fine dining at its best! But is the food safe? Do waiters and waitresses live up to "Service with a smile", without contaminating your food in some way?

A few days ago, I had the unique opportunity to phone interview Jeff, an ex head chef for a restaurant here in Oklahoma. He also happens to be a friend of mine. He has been in food service for over 20 years. I also phone interviewed a woman named Maria at the same time, who waited for about 5 years at a popular restaurant chain. She is now a stay at home mom whom I met on a play day with my daughter.

Some of the stories they told me while head chef at a well known restaurant was mind staggering to put it lightly. I asked them questions on what he experienced and here are some of his answers. The names of the restaurants and his co-workers are not displayed for legal purposes:

Dahlia: Thank you for allowing me to interview you today Jeff and Maria.

Jeff: "You're quite welcome."

Maria: "No problem, someone should tell the public to watch out."

Dahlia: "Jeff, how many instances would you see per night of food tampering?"

Jeff: "Oh my...It depended on who was waiting that evening. I worked with one guy who always seemed upset with the customers. He would do horrible things like cough on their food when he had a cold someone's food at least once per night. He once dropped ice in dish water, and fished it out with his hands and put it back in a glass and served it."

Dahlia: "Why didn't you say anything to the owner?"

Jeff: "There are more waiters and waitresses than there are chefs. Get my drift?"

Dahlia: "Um, I think so." You were afraid of retaliation from them against you, right?"

Jeff: "Yes. That and I didn't want to lose my job." Almost all the waiting staff I worked with did some type of tampering once or twice, and if one goes down, the others were probably guilty of it to. They stick together. Keep in mind too, this was a well known, first class establishment."

Dahlia: "Maria, is what Jeff is telling me correct?"

Maria: "Yes, for the most part. Waiting is a tough job. Without comradery among the wait staff, you are basically in for a very hard time working at a restaurant. Most of the time, cooks, chefs, and wait staff all get along. There are some instances where this is not true, and tampering with customers food gears more toward getting the other staff in trouble, because they make the tampering obvious to the customer. The customer complains, and the cook is in trouble for something they didn't do."

Dahlia: "I see. What is the biggest reason why food tampering and contamination happens?"

Maria: "Wait staff gets paid only $2-4.00 per hour at a mid-level restaurant, and you have to be friendly all the time, or you could lose your job. Tips are a very important part of the wait staff's income. If we aren't tipped enough, this leads to frustration. Wait staff feels they need some way of expressing their frustrations, and unfortunately, they take it out on the customer."

Dahlia: "Do you feel this is a justifiable thing to do?"

Maria: "Not at all. I can honestly say I have never tampered with anyone's food, but I worked with people who have."

Dahlia: "Maria, What are some of the ways you've seen other wait staff tamper with food."

Maria: "Most tampering happens when food is sent back to the kitchen because something was wrong with it. I have seen some pretty weird things. Are you sure you want to hear about it?"

Dahlia: "Yes, I feel people should know. Go ahead."

Maria: "Ok. I have seen wait staff spit in food, cough all over it, even drop it on the floor intentionally."

Dahlia "Wow, how often does this happen?"

Maria "There is usually one customer who complains a night. So I would say once or more per night."

Dahlia: "Jeff, what type of suggestions would you make to a potential customer to protect themselves against food tampering?"

Jeff: "Before even being seated, have your hostess escort you to the bathrooms. If they aren't clean, leave. The reason I say this is because if they don't have time to keep the bathrooms clean, chances are their prep areas are filthy too."

Dahlia: "Maria, any suggestions?"

Maria: Tip well or don't come back to the establishment. Believe it or not, most wait staff has very good memories when it comes to who tips and who doesn't. They will get revenge next time on you, however wrong their thinking is, they will do it anyway."

Jeff" "Another suggestion-Never order anything that states that it is "Stuffed"."Stuffed" probably refers to whatever hasn't been used up in the fridge, and you never know what they put in it. Finances are a huge part of restaurant management. A restaurant hates to lose money.

Maria: "Avoid the soup of the day" too, especially clam chowders and chili."

Dahlia: "I will keep that in mind. Thank you again both for the suggestions, and the insight on this all too common problem."

Jeff: "You are welcome. Stay safe!"

Maria: "No Problem. Glad to enlighten."

After this interview, it will take me a very long time to step into another restaurant. When I told my Fiancé' this he smiled. Was it because he wouldn't hear me whine about going out to eat, or does he think I am being ridiculous? Either way, I will be doing all the cooking for this family from now on.