# Buffet etiquette question: new plate every trip? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 8, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffet-etiquette-question-new-plate-every-trip/566887 "2011-01-08T16:04:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffet-etiquette-question-new-plate-every-trip/566887/21 "2011-01-11T17:11:59Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > This is one of those things that is done to reassure people that hygiene precautions are being observed, rather than to offer any meaningful, measurable level of protection. I’m strongly inclined to agree with this. In our own home, and in just about every residence I’ve ever eaten in, communal food items are handled in ways that blatantly violate commercial health codes in several ways. Nobody gets a new plate when they grab a second helping of pasta salad; when we have more guests than our table can handle, there are no sneeze guards over on the kitchen counter where the food dishes are lined up; we even have children touching stuff. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffet-etiquette-question-new-plate-every-trip/566887/22 "2011-01-11T17:28:49Z")
I have to agree with **Lynn** - unsupervised kids are pretty bad at buffets. The worst thing I’ve ever seen, though, was a few weeks ago when I went to a local Indian buffet and the woman in front of me, while gabbing with her friend, grabbed some food off the buffet with her hand, sniffed it and put it back. It was really disgusting. Oh, and with respect to the OP - yes, use another plate. Whether it’s a hygiene issue or not, it’s good form. You can use the same plate at home. ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffet-etiquette-question-new-plate-every-trip/566887/23 "2011-01-11T19:43:55Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > This is one of those things that is done to reassure people that hygiene precautions are being observed, rather than to offer any meaningful, measurable level of protection. Ah, “hygiene theatre”. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffet-etiquette-question-new-plate-every-trip/566887/24 "2011-01-11T20:28:03Z")
> [@MrSquishy](#): > > Ah, “hygiene theatre”. More uses for my speculum! ---
**Author:** ![lisalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/0ea827/32.png) [@lisalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisalan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffet-etiquette-question-new-plate-every-trip/566887/25 "2011-01-11T20:33:54Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > I haven’t eaten at a lot of buffets, so I’m not sure what the proper etiquette is regarding plates. > > At a big buffet, the servers are constantly clearing plates and so it seems that a new plate for each trip is a no-brainer. However, the other day I was eating at a small Indian restaurant buffet, and I felt guilty/stupid for getting a new plate for each trip. However, I also thought it might be gross (for the other patrons) if I re-used a plate, kind of like double-dipping a chip. > > What’s the etiquette and does it change depending on the size of the place? For the record, I got a new plate for each trip but felt self-conscious about creating a bunch of extra dirty plates that would have to be washed. You shuld never feel guilty for not exposing others to your bodily fluids:D Use a new plate each time. ---
**Author:** ![lisalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/0ea827/32.png) [@lisalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisalan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffet-etiquette-question-new-plate-every-trip/566887/26 "2011-01-11T20:35:14Z")
> [@heathen\_earthling](#): > > Then why not worry about the germs you could get from other people putting their hands on the serving spoons? I can follow what **cochrane** says, but I’m not convinced that it isn’t a negligible thing to be concerned about. That is gross too. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffet-etiquette-question-new-plate-every-trip/566887/27 "2011-01-11T22:42:43Z")
> [@lisalan](#): > > That is gross too. Touching the handle of a spoon someone else has touched is gross to you? 😕 Do you keep your hands in your pockets 24 hours a day and never touch \*anything \*or what? That’s not cleanliness, that’s paranoia. ---
**Author:** ![lisalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/0ea827/32.png) [@lisalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisalan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffet-etiquette-question-new-plate-every-trip/566887/28 "2011-01-11T23:13:00Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Touching the handle of a spoon someone else has touched is gross to you? 😕 Do you keep your hands in your pockets 24 hours a day and never touch \*anything \*or what? > > That’s not cleanliness, that’s paranoia. UMMMMM. Do you know how many people touch serving spoons at a buffet? I’m sure some of they may have picked their noses or used the washroom without washing their hands. I don’t call that paranoia. Yeah that’s right I wear gloves all day:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffet-etiquette-question-new-plate-every-trip/566887/29 "2011-01-12T15:57:24Z")
I dunno, I’ve always used the spoon and tong handles at buffets and I haven’t been overly sick yet. I, too, would call it mild paranoia. But not to get into a hijack about that, to the OP, I always get a new plate. I think some places actually have signs up saying you should get a new one each time. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffet-etiquette-question-new-plate-every-trip/566887/30 "2011-01-12T21:10:18Z")
> [@lisalan](#): > > UMMMMM. Do you know how many people touch serving spoons at a buffet? I’m sure some of they may have picked their noses or used the washroom without washing their hands. > I don’t call that paranoia. > Yeah that’s right I wear gloves all day:rolleyes: OMG OMG! You know how many people touch doors ever day! Or phones?! Or supermarket wagons? Or railings on stairs? Or elevator buttons? Oh my God I can’t touch anything because they all have germmmmmmms! ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffet-etiquette-question-new-plate-every-trip/566887/31 "2011-01-12T21:38:08Z")
I always assumed it was to keep “responsible” people from putting back the food they didn’t eat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buffet-etiquette-question-new-plate-every-trip/566887.md?page=1)