When dining at a new restaurant, do you immediately assess your surroundings? We can't blame you. It's only natural to ensure you're eating in a clean environment — and this is especially true of fast food joints. Mass-produced food and a high customer turnover can lead to serious health concerns without the right protocols.
It's in your best interest to look for red flags at burger joints and other fast-food chains. Luckily, some of these warning signs are obvious. If you sit down at a fast-food joint and notice the table smells like dirty dish rags, it's time to leave.
Chances are, you're familiar with the smell. It's what happens when a dish rag is used far too many times. As it picks up food particles and accumulates bacteria, it takes on a musty or sour odor.
Moisture exacerbates the issue, so if those dish rags are damp, you can expect that smell to be even stronger. Eating at a table that smells bad is unpleasant. However, our concerns go beyond olfactory issues.
A musty odor is a tell-tale sign that the restaurant is not using a clean rag to wipe down tables, chairs — or worse — cooking surfaces. And ultimately, a dirty rag is one of many signs you're in a dirty restaurant . A dirty rag equals a dirty restaurant Restaurants must maintain certain standards to ensure a clean environment.
Dish rags should be cleaned regularly in hot water and disinfectant, and different colored towels should be used for wiping versus drying. It's also necessary to replace rags when.
