# How concerned should I be about eating fast food in the covid-19 pandemic? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 14, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494 "2020-03-14T19:47:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/21 "2020-03-15T07:20:57Z")
How concerned should you be about eating fast food in the covid-19 pandemic? As concerned as you were pre ‘pandemic’ about the other, many, food transmissible pathogens. If you weren’t worried about Hepatitis, why are you worrying about Covid-19? CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/22 "2020-03-15T09:32:19Z")
I don’t know whether to fear a CostCo hot dog, drive-through McFoodery, taco truck, deli sandwich, bake-your-own pizza, gourmet ice cream, brewpub BBQ, Chinese buffet, bistro, redneck burger, or donut shop. I don’t know which of those might be serving when I drive down to civilization on Tuesday. Fresh corndogs are probably safe enough. ---
**Author:** ![a6ka97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/23 "2020-03-15T13:17:29Z")
Ate lunch at our local McDonalds yesterday. They were serving all the orders, even if it was “dine in” as “to go” orders in paper bags. The workers said they were doing this to eliminate the trays and table tents with the order numbers that have the potential to be handled by many different people. They had one employee who was wiping down the tables and seats as soon as a customer got up to leave. The Play Place was open with people sitting in there but I heard another customer say that the climbing equipment was closed off. My wife had worked for this franchise owner along with other family members and friends of the family and we know she, along with the managers, run a clean restaurant. Now the Burger King on the other side of town? Not too sure if I would want to eat there for the next few months. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/24 "2020-03-15T14:31:32Z")
> [@Jim\_Peebles](#): > > My guess is you drastically increase your chances of being infected with Covid-19 by eating fast food. I also guess Covid-19 is just a run of the mill virus, but that is something I have argued in other threads. I’m thinking of a number between 1 and 550. Go! ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/25 "2020-03-15T15:00:16Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Until congress passes that emergency Sick leave bill, I’d be quite concerned. If fast food workers have a choice of working while sick or not paying the rent and becoming homeless, they are gonna work sick.☹ > > Most are pretty stringent about washing hands, sure, but it’s so easy to scratch your nose and keep on prepping that burger. > > Myself, I am staying away. Fun fact. The sick leave bill exempts businesses with more than 500 employees - they can continue without providing sick leave. McDonalds does not offer sick leave to all employees… ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/26 "2020-03-15T15:10:24Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’m thinking of a number between 1 and 550. > > Go! It’s hilarious watching everyone bitching and moaning just because we’re all trapped in a burning house, like it’s some huge crisis that hasn’t happened before. You’re much more likely to die in a traffic accident, so how come none of you snowflakes are worried about the car in the driveway? Would someone who isn’t fully engulfed please get up and turn the channel back to Fox News? The TV remote just melted. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/27 "2020-03-15T15:16:31Z")
> [@polar\_bear](#): > > Yes very dangerous, especially Domino’s pizza. What does a Domino’s pizza even look like these days? Do they still have [pepperoni](https://portcitydaily.com/wp-content/uploads/COVID19.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/28 "2020-03-15T16:35:25Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > How concerned should you be about eating fast food in the covid-19 pandemic? > As concerned as you were pre ‘pandemic’ about the other, many, food transmissible pathogens. > If you weren’t worried about Hepatitis, why are you worrying about Covid-19? But COVID-19 isn’t transmitted by food (specifically, any more than by anything else). ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/29 "2020-03-15T17:29:14Z")
> [@Jim\_Peebles](#): > > More than the flu. I feel like at this point, you are just being willfully (and dangerously) ignorant if you believe that. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/30 "2020-03-15T19:33:04Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > If you weren’t worried about Hepatitis, why are you worrying about Covid-19? In recent years there have been 1,000-2,000 cases of Hepatitis A (the food-borne one) a year in the US. There are already more Covid cases than that, and of course that is going to skyrocket. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/31 "2020-03-15T20:14:43Z")
Well, among other considerations, I am vaccinated against HAV and HBV. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/32 "2020-03-15T20:23:02Z")
When the lockdown in Italy started (no idea if it’s still true), they specifically allowed restaurants and bars to be open 12 hours a day. Then again, they probably have better sick day laws. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_Peebles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Jim\_Peebles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_Peebles)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/33 "2020-03-15T20:38:34Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I feel like at this point, you are just being willfully (and dangerously) ignorant if you believe that. Anyone who believes that should NOT eat at any restaurants of any kind, and should advise others of that. Eating at a restaurant implies belief that it is just a run of the mill virus. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/34 "2020-03-15T21:16:02Z")
France has ordered the [shutdown](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51892477) of all restaurants. If the French close their cafes, there’s a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_Peebles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Jim\_Peebles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_Peebles)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/35 "2020-03-15T22:01:08Z")
Further: if anyone here is arguing this virus is more dangerous than the “usual” viruses AND also still eats at restaurants, then that itself is a proof by contradiction that there is a fundamental flaw somewhere in their reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/36 "2020-03-15T22:06:27Z")
[Ohio And Illinois Governors Considering Closing Bars And Restaurants To Stop Pandemic Spread](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2020/03/15/ohio_and_illinois_governors_considering_closing_bars_and_restaurants_to_stop_pandemic_spread.html) ETA: More: > **[March 15 coronavirus news](https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-2-03-15-20-intl-hnk/h_a558792d42246e9d68b9e8744c933128)** Ohio, Illinois, California, Boston. ---
**Author:** ![polar\_bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@polar\_bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polar_bear)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/37 "2020-03-15T22:15:42Z")
Cafés and restaurants are not being closed because of food safety. They are being closed because we don’t want people bunched up together and sharing germs. Here in the Netherlands they anounced the closure of restaurants, sportclubs, saunas, sexclubs and coffeeshops (the weed kind) today at 5.30…it was going into effect at 6. Result was mostly that there were very long queues of people trying to get their last weed (til at least april 6th). More visible than any of TP and hand sanitizer panic. Verstuurd vanaf mijn moto g(6) met Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/38 "2020-03-15T22:50:35Z")
Yes, I know. And yet the discussion in this thread has ranged farther than that, and has included related issues such as > [@](#): > > The coronavirus is a respiratory infection, not a food-borne illness, so technically you can’t catch it from what you eat. But a fast food restaurant, like any other public place, could bring you into contact with an infected person. > [@](#): > > A lot of people are avoiding restaurants and using food delivery services like Bite Squad and GrubHub > [@](#): > > I will be avoiding all restaurants > [@](#): > > I don’t know whether to fear a CostCo hot dog, drive-through McFoodery, taco truck, deli sandwich, bake-your-own pizza, gourmet ice cream, brewpub BBQ, Chinese buffet, bistro, redneck burger, or donut shop. I don’t know which of those might be serving when I drive down to civilization on Tuesday. > [@](#): > > They were serving all the orders, even if it was “dine in” as “to go” orders in paper bags. The workers said they were doing this to eliminate the trays and table tents with the order numbers that have the potential to be handled by many different people. > [@](#): > > But COVID-19 isn’t transmitted by food (specifically, any more than by anything else). > [@](#): > > When the lockdown in Italy started (no idea if it’s still true), they specifically allowed restaurants and bars to be open 12 hours a day. > [@](#): > > Anyone who believes that should NOT eat at any restaurants of any kind, and should advise others of that. Eating at a restaurant implies belief that it is just a run of the mill virus. > [@](#): > > France has ordered the shutdown of all restaurants. > > If the French close their cafes, there’s a problem. > [@](#): > > Further: if anyone here is arguing this virus is more dangerous than the “usual” viruses AND also still eats at restaurants, then that itself is a proof by contradiction that there is a fundamental flaw somewhere in their reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/39 "2020-03-15T22:54:55Z")
On Friday the 13th, the NC Hardee’s where I ate lunch had moved all of its movable self-service items to behind the service counter - that’s sweet & unsweet tea urns, sweeteners, straws, lids, ketchup, etc., to avoid customers spreading their germs. They also did not use trays, only take out bags. May have been state or county mandated. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494/40 "2020-03-15T22:59:17Z")
Actually, fast food is a much safer choice than a restaurant that doesn’t have a drive-thru. Also, chain fast food restaurants have two layers or food safety quality control; corporate and municipal health inspectors [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-concerned-should-i-be-about-eating-fast-food-in-the-covid-19-pandemic/849494.md?page=3)