Codes keep eateries going a little nutty

Source: The Saginaw News
Go into McDonald's and workers won't sprinkle nuts on your sundae.

Make a run for the border, and some Taco Bell cooks won't cut your Mexican pizza.

A restaurant employee strike isn't in force, but a health standards crackdown is.

Saginaw County eateries are busy complying with a couple of codes inspectors are picky about: bare-hand contact with food and repeated use of utensils.

Although no one forced McDonald's to hold back nut sprinkles from customers, the fast-food chain felt the need to do so.

Patrons will receive little plastic baggies containing nut toppings at McDonald's in Bridgeport Township, Birch Run and Frankenmuth.

Tony D'Anna owns the outlets and said other franchises also likely will cease sprinkling. An effort to provide customers with a fresher product and limit the chance of allergic reactions are reasons for the policy change, he said.

"We decided that this way we wouldn't run the risk of someone with allergies eating the nuts," said D'Anna, adding that his Bridgeport location has yet to switch to the pre-packaged toppings.

"We have to get rid of the (existing stock) first," he said.

Jerry Neilson, manager of the Taco Bell at 6345 Dixie in Bridgeport, said his crew won't slice Mexican pizzas, although some franchises will do it upon request.

"A few years back, we were told that we couldn't use the same knife repeatedly," he said.

It was too time consuming to keep washing the utensil, so "we just stopped doing it." Neilson said.

Kevin W. Datte, director of environmental health services for the Saginaw County Department of Public Health, said state officials are monitoring more closely to prevent E. coli, salmonella and other bacterial outbreaks.

"Basically, anyone handling food should wear plastic gloves," he said.

"Also, body hair like goatees, hair on the forearms and beards must be covered" or cut. Joseph Bringer, co-owner of Bringer Inn, said he doesn't object to the standards but would like more clarity.

"We're not always sure what bare-hand contact means or how far we can go," he said. Bringer Inn is at 515 W. Genesee in Saginaw. "Does no bare-hand contact mean even the person handing you the food in a bag should wear gloves?" Bringer said.

Datte said food preparation workers are the ones primarily targeted.

"Sometimes the rules seem silly," Bringer said.

Still, David Hilbrandt, owner of Tony's Original Restaurant at 2612 State in Saginaw, said food merchants must grin and bear it.

"No matter how ridiculous something may seem," he said.
Source: The Saginaw News