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What’s the 411 on eating fast food during the coronavirus?

By Kareem Gantt

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 10: A Starbucks coffee shop sits mostly empty at Amazon headquarters on March 10, 2020 in downtown Seattle, Washington. In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Amazon recommended all employees in its Seattle headquarters work from home, leaving much of downtown nearly void of people. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 10: A Starbucks coffee shop sits mostly empty at Amazon headquarters on March 10, 2020 in downtown Seattle, Washington. In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Amazon recommended all employees in its Seattle headquarters work from home, leaving much of downtown nearly void of people. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) /
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Drive-thrus, Fast Food
NOVATO, CA – FEBRUARY 22: A car goes through a drive thru at a Taco Bell restaurant on February 22, 2018 in Novato, California. Taco Bell has become the fourth-largest domestic restaurant brand by edging out Burger King. Taco Bell sits behind the top three restaurant chains McDonald’s, Starbucks and Subway. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /

5. What about employees? Has the coronavirus changed their working atmosphere?

Yes sir, buddy. Most fast-food chains are now requiring that their employees be re-trained on food safety. Also, employee hygiene could very well be more tightly enforced. That means hairnets for employees who don’t have hats, regular hand washing, using gloves to handle money, cleaning dining areas and bathrooms more often and so forth. There could also be more emphasis on employees staying home when sick.

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The fast-food industry is notorious for forcing their employees to work sick (mainly by requiring doctor’s notes to return to work) and this has long been a public health concern. However, with the coronavirus raging on, there is a new push for workers, especially in the food service industry, to get paid sick leave and to waive some onerous requirements that bars workers from staying home while they’re ill.

6. Can fast-food outlets expect to see more inspections?

Yes, yes, and double yes. With a new eye on health and cleanliness, fast-food outlets can expect to see more inspections to see if their stores are up to local and state health codes. Employees should not take these inspections lightly, as healthy inspectors may well enforce health laws more strictly.

7. Is it safe to eat Chinese food?

Yes, it’s safe to eat Chinese food, for the 546742420394th time.

8. So Kareem, is it really safe to eat at fast-food restaurants, or are you just spitting out hot air to us?

Yes, it really is safe to eat at fast-food restaurants. For some simple tips, carry some hand sanitizer and make sure you wash your hands before you eat, just like you do at home. Also, look at a restaurant’s health grade to make sure that the location is making the grade.

In some respects, fast food outlets have never been cleaner, and these practices could linger well past the coronavirus panic phase. Just make sure you’re doing your part to help keep everyone healthy and don’t panic, we got this.

Happy eating!

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