With the many government regulations and health inspectors in place we not only assume that dining at our favorite restaurants is safe, we expect it to be safe. Yet every year thousands of people become ill from restaurant dining.

Whether dining out at the local fast food joint or a fancy eatery, we are putting our trust in strangers that they are following every law and guideline about food handling and preparation. The necessary time for hand washing is twenty seconds which makes us look back at the many times we have seen an employee in the bathroom washing or not washing their hands. Did you count to twenty? Did the employee count to twenty? Again it goes back to the trust issue we put into those clean or unclean hands of a stranger.

If you are a risk taker and have no fear of dining out like most individuals, there are many signs to watch out for and precautions you can take to help keep you and your stomach safe.

*Bathrooms
If the bathrooms are dirty than you can trust other parts of the establishment are also dirty. If grime is built up in the bathroom than you can assume that the kitchen will also be unclean.

*Dining Area
The dining area should be clean including tables, windowsills, floors and chairs. View employees as they clean the tables. Are they being cleaned in a manner you would or are they just being wiped down for appearances? A great place to look is the high chairs. Many times the high chairs have been wiped down but you will notice food particles stuck into every crevice. Sanitizing wipes are available which can be kept in your purse or pocket. A simple wipe down with an anti-bacterial wipe may help keep you and your child safe. Many parents carry these to use on shopping carts or anywhere young hands are known to touch.

*Food Areas
Areas that have visible food preparation can be viewed for proper food handling. Watch for utensils that are being used for raw foods and then being used to transfer cooked foods onto plates. Employees can be watched for cleanliness and proper food handling which will give patrons a piece of mind.

*Buffets
Special precautions should be taken at buffet-style establishments. Not only has the food been handled by the staff but other patrons. Hot food should be hot with steam coming from the food and cold food should be very cold. If in doubt about the proper temperature you should not eat it.

When serving yourself from the buffet, pull the food from the very bottom of

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