OK for bartenders to handle garnishes with hands?!
Answers: Just out of curiosity, why are bartenders allowed to use their hands to put garnishes in drinks? It seems like a violation of safe food handling that a bartender would take money, then make a drink and add a garnish, all without washing their hands? Is this legal, and if not, why aren't they caught by health inspectors? Are they exempt? Does the alcohol kill any germs that might have been passed to the garnish? Would be interesting to hear from bartenders, restaurant or bar owners, or health inspectors!
I've been a bartender for over five years and have yet to hear of a complaint of a customer getting sick from a garnish. I believe there are several reasons for this. The first and most important is alcohol is a powerful disinfectant, most people either throw a garnish out or put it directly in a drink (which is generally high proof) which would kill most things that could hurt you. Hand sanitizer is pretty much all alcohol, and while that is stronger than a drink it works on the same principle. Secondly, most garnishes are acidic in nature (citrus fruits) or in some sort of pickling brine (onions or olives). The citric acid and high salt content in brine is also likely to kill off any of those nasty bugs as well. The only garnish I can really think of that would be a good platform for bacteria transfer would be cherries, but I always try to grab those by the stem thereby limiting exposure. Last but not least, bartender's hands are probably way more clean than yours. Their hands are constanly getting wet, getting alcohol on them which would kill stuff, and are being washed when cleaning glassware. I'd say that you would have a better chance getting sick handling your own garnish after you have handled money paying for a drink. If it worries you though throw out the garnish and ask to grab another with a napkin, the bartender won't care.
actually it is ok, a bartender should keep his hands wet the whole time to avoid bacteria
Yeah, that's gross but busy bars just don't have time to wash hands. Most likely, you won't get sick but still... What can you do.
If you worked in the back fo a kitchen, you'd be surprised what you eat!
Most just use those little plastic swords to stab the garnish anyway. And, as you had indicated in your comments, alcohol will kill any germs on the garnish.
A larger worry of mine would be dirty glasses.
when i was a bartender i handled garnishes with my teeth, that way i had my hands free to stick my fingers in the drinks!
Here's your answer. Man up fruit and alcohol don't mix. Man Law!!!
for years I hung out at the bar waiting to get back to the pool table.
one of the things I noticed the bar keep was constantly washing the beer glasses.
and as I remember the were always toweling the rail after mixing drinks..
so are you sure you just haven't paid attention..
If paranoid about bacteria ...????... there is no help..
I bar tend at local sporting events I have a wet towel and wipe my fingers after each drink and after I handle the money I also ask the customer if they want garnish if you are that paranoid don't drink out stay home don't get garnish bring your own hey were you that @ I waited on the other night you wanted jack and coke with a lime and then didn't want it because I didn't wash my hands with soap and water and then got another drink without lime and then asked me just to drop the lime in and don't squeeze it if that was you you are a moron I had a long line and I still handled the lime