Eating food from a stranger.

[inhawaii]

A few times a year i order myself some homemade goodies (usually cookies) offered by ebay sellers.  Some of my friends and family think it's gross and they will not eat any.  I get the usual responses:

1) What if they try to poison you?

I'm not that important of a person to poison.

2) What if they spit in it?

What if the girl at my local bakery spits in it?

3) How do you know how clean they are?

How do i know how clean my local bakery is?

Any thoughts on this matter?

[rock.star]

The poison Tylenol was to cover up a muder .

[sin-n-dex]

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@kataggr-44 wrote:

Every time you go into a restaurant or order at McDonalds your food is being handled by strangers.

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In Canada sick days are limited, and if you're unfortunate to get 4 colds in a year and two weeks of coughing and sneezing each time, you can bet many of these people are handing your food.

I used to work at 7-Eleven but I didn't handle food when sick. They did not allow me to stay home just for coughing and sneezing (and we weren't staffed enough for me to ask someone to cover for me).

C.

[sin-n-dex]

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@inhawaii wrote:

I've narrowed it down to 3.

SIMPLY ALMOND HOMEMADE SUGAR COOKIES (CHOICE OF QUANTITY & SANDING SUGAR COLORS)

4 Dozen Homemade Lemon Shortbread Cookies w/Lemon Glaze

HOMEMADE CHOCK FULL OF GHIRARDELLI CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (CHOICE OF QUANTITY)

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I make almond shortbreads that are decorated with glazed cherry pieces.

My friends at work do trust my baking, so I treat them every few weeks with some cookies or squares. (I want to have them, but can only eat a few, I share the rest of them with my friends). Dishes are cleaned with a dishwasher and very hot water and I pay someone to come and clean my kitchen every couple of weeks.

C.

[sin-n-dex]

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@myangelandmyprincess wrote:

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@luckythewinner wrote:

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1) What if they try to poison you? I'm not that important of a person to poison.

The person who poisoned people with tainted Tylenol in the 1980s had no idea who would end up being poisoned. 

3) How do you know how clean they are? How do i know how clean my local bakery is?

You don't. But unlike eBay sellers, your local bakery is subject to random health inspections so it has an incentive to maintain standards. Your local bakery also likely has a lot more invested in its business and thus has a lot more at stake. 

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Having worked at several restaurants and bakeries I can tell you inspections don't always mean much.  1.   They always are at the same time of year for renewing sure you don't know the exact day but you know to be extra prepared at the time of year. 2.  Some places I worked should never have passed how they did I don't know.   

My dad has repaired a few appliances at businesses and has told me other food places I should never eat again these are places that pass with flying colors but are apparently filthy.  I'm betting some of these homemade goods might be even cooked in cleaner environments 

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My father and law was an electrician and used to report on the kitchens of our favourite restaurants.

I've seen kitchens in the third world... I was in Addis Ababa where my friends were ordering some lentils and injera and I went through the kitchen to use the bathroom. I told them not to order, the dishes were being cleaned with filthy water.

C.

[luckythewinner]

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@rock.star wrote:
The poison Tylenol was to cover up a muder .

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The rationale for poisoning random unimportant people does not change the fact that random unimportant people were poisoned. 

[this*old*attic]

I thought EBay disallowed homemade food years ago?

[this*old*attic]

Me too!

[bigdeals.etc]

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@inhawaii wrote:

I've been ordering home-baked goodies from ebay for at least 10 years.

Honestly, i have no idea what the official policy is?

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Just make sure you're not buying from a disgruntled buyer of yours.

[impalajohnny]

Here in NYC you might get ripped off by using someone unlicensed. On the other hand you are certain to get ripped off by someone who is licensed.

People pay a lot of money to get all official documents in order. That way the city ignores you and goes after someone honest instead. You got screwed in advance and earned the right to pay it forward.

I've eaten stuff offered to me face to face on the street. I've never bought food stuff on ebay but I'd probably feel fine eating it. Poisoning strangers is more trouble than it's worth.

[*madison]

Any thoughts on this matter?

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I wouldn't even risk buying food for my dog or cats from some random stranger on ebay..

[inhawaii]

Hey Madison,   You're just like some of my friends and family.   LOL  They think i'm weird for ordering food from a stranger.  They refuse to eat it.  Even during the holidays when neighbors bring over homemade goodies, i'm the only one who will eat it.   That's ok, more for me!

[*madison]

I don't think you are weird, it's just something I wouldn't do..

[earlyant-77]

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@impalajohnny wrote:

Here in NYC you might get ripped off by using someone unlicensed. On the other hand you are certain to get ripped off by someone who is licensed.

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Like their world famous finger dogs .....

[myangelandmyprincess]

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@luckythewinner wrote:

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Having worked at several restaurants and bakeries I can tell you inspections don't always mean much.  

But IMHO they mean more than no inspections at all. 

They always are at the same time of year for renewing sure you don't know the exact day but you know to be extra prepared at the time of year.

So at least you know the equipment has been maintained and cleaned at least once a year. 

I'm betting some of these homemade goods might be even cooked in cleaner environments 

Or not. 

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Ha no we didn't clean the equipment once a year the inspectors never looked that deep.  That's just when you made sure there was no out of date food being used and that the food was stored properly.  You clean up dropped food.  It's ok the place that was the worst place I worked at  closed down for lack of business    In my opinion no having inspections doesn't mean more.   Businesses like that have more activity and are more likely to get in filthy condition because of that activity and since no one has to live there no one cares   Are there homes like that sure but I don't think the lack of inspections makes much difference.   

where work now the equipment gets cleaned every week the floor gets swept and mopped every day   I'm going to miss it when I move in. November 

[webwanna]

I have been to hundreds of people's homes for a past job and I learned that people who are filthy rarely realize it.  Women who would make dozens of cookies to hand out or sell are doing so in filthy kitchens, with family members that are sticking their fingers in the batter.  Licking the spoon and then using it to mix the batter again.   It's really disgusting actually.  

They have the 3 second drop on the floor rule. (They think food is safe to eat when dropped on the floor  if it's only been there for 3 seconds.)

They don't wash their hands after using the restroom.  (There's a reason why restaurants started hanging signs in the bathroom that say "All employees must wash their hands".... so many people weren't doing it.)

Commercial bakeries have rules.  That's why you buy commercial not homemade.

I wouldn't worry so much about being poisoned.  At least your friends and family would let the police know to check your Ebay cookies if something happens to you...