"One red flag that gets overlooked too often relates to the utensils, or lack thereof. If every dish does not have its own serving utensil, think twice about eating there. The larger the buffet is, the more serving utensils it requires. While that seems like something you might take for granted, not all buffet restaurants put in the effort to make this happen. This is a buffet red flag that should make you turn around."
"It's important to stay mindful of cross-contamination at a buffet, both in terms of bacteria and allergens. For instance, imagine if someone were to use the same tongs for sushi and then for salad. Not only could there be a transfer of potentially dangerous bacteria from the raw food, but anyone with a seafood allergy would then be at risk just from eating salad. Additionally, vegan diners could be exposed to seafood and other non-vegan contaminants."
Buffets require a dedicated serving utensil for every dish to prevent cross-contamination. Missing or shared utensils can transfer pathogens and allergens between dishes. Customers doubling up on tongs or spoons increases the likelihood of spreading bacteria such as salmonella and norovirus. Using the same utensils for raw and ready-to-eat foods raises the risk of transferring dangerous microbes. Shared utensil handling increases exposure when people touch their faces or eat with contaminated fingers. Seafood allergens and non-vegan ingredients can contaminate otherwise safe dishes, endangering allergy sufferers and diners who avoid animal products.
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