When I was a PhD student I volunteered as a dishwasher in a restaurant as part of my food safety-related research. I saw lots of things, but the two things I remember most is that I was often asked to work with a server to do some salad plating; and I had to listen to a lot of Pink Floyd.
There was some Tom Petty, and The Clash, but a lot of Pink Floyd.
Servers, while not traditionally thought as food handlers, are often involved with scooping beverage ice, putting silverware together and sometimes, as I experienced, salad preparation.
And when a server is confirmed ill with hepatitis A, even if they are superstars at handwashing, a whole lot of business hurt happens. Stuff like public health clinics and loss of confidence.
According to WCNC, a server at a Charlotte-area restaurant, Dogwood Southern Table and Bar, has the virus and may have exposed patrons in early February.
Health officials say the worker did not prepare food, but was responsible for polishing silverware and severing food. Monday afternoon, the Health Department offered a walk-in clinic for free vaccination.
“I’m very concerned because I have small kids at home and so I worry about not just myself, but my family, and so it’s unfortunate.”
So far about 20 people have been vaccinated.