# Should I eat a sandwich from the gas station? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 14, 2018, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535 "2018-03-14T06:06:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr.Crap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.crap/32/3131_2.png) [@Dr.Crap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Crap)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/1 "2018-03-14T06:06:11Z")
My life coach quit. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/2 "2018-03-14T06:09:34Z")
Sure. What’s the worst that could happen? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/3 "2018-03-14T06:14:25Z")
You could get brain worms like Philip Fry. I say go for it. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/4 "2018-03-14T07:04:55Z")
I once bought a hamburger-like sandwich at a gas station, but didn’t eat it before I got home, so I gave it to the dog. He wouldn’t eat it. This is a dog who will eat out of the cat box. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/5 "2018-03-14T07:24:51Z")
If you bought it from the chiller cabinet, then yes If you found it on the forecourt, probably not ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/6 "2018-03-14T08:06:35Z")
You mean the ones made yesterday of egg salad or baloney, oleomargarine. one shriveled leaf of iceberg and American white bread, cut diagonally, and saran-wrapped? OF course you should not eat that, just as a matter of principle. Look in the dumpster for something tastier, more nutritious and cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/7 "2018-03-14T08:16:56Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > You could get brain worms like Philip Fry. I say go for it. You could learn the holophoner. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/8 "2018-03-14T09:13:32Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Look in the dumpster… O god, here we go again. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/9 "2018-03-14T09:22:04Z")
It appears you may not be asking a serious question. However, at gas stations and especially truck stops their are sandwichs in _sealed packages_ that came from some larger scale factory somewhere. As long as they were kept refrigerated and are not past the expiration date, your odds are decent. Turkey or roast beef plus lettuce and tomato on wheat bread. I’ve eaten a few of them. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/10 "2018-03-14T09:41:41Z")
I still get teased about a gas station egg salad sandwich that I ate 5 years ago. I’m still alive. mmm ---
**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 14, 2018, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/11 "2018-03-14T10:21:03Z")
> [@Dr.Crap](#): > > My life coach quit. In disgust? Need the backstory. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/12 "2018-03-14T11:28:04Z")
Our local convenience store chain – Stewart’s-- also has gas pumps. Their sandwiches are just fine. I pick up a tuna sandwich there from time to time. Or two hard-boiled eggs. \ Make that three hard-boiled eggs. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/13 "2018-03-14T12:21:04Z")
Good username/post title combo. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/14 "2018-03-14T12:30:04Z")
I think it depends, and that you should trust your gut (no pun intended). If it looks fresh, doesn’t smell off and you are within the sell by date it’s probably okay to eat. Our local county health department inspects all places that make food to ensure they are using proper procedures for safe food handling (YMMV). However if your gut says to pass, I would pass and instead head over to a national fast food chain. The problem with gas stations is that they often hire people that can’t get a job at McDonald’s, and that’s a little worrisome. ---
**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 14, 2018, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/15 "2018-03-14T12:33:58Z")
What about gas station self-serve pizza? The pizza is fine, but when people self-serve it they touch pieces other than their own. Never eat gas station food touched by the kind of people that eat gas station food! ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/16 "2018-03-14T12:50:46Z")
Life coach: This is why I quit the OP. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/17 "2018-03-14T12:57:14Z")
On the rare occasions I buy one, I usually pull from the back of the row, as they tend to have fresher expiration dates. And I never buy a pre-wrapped sammich with lettuce on it as it is often moldy. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/18 "2018-03-14T13:34:25Z")
I basically grew up on gas station food (thanks, Mom!), and there’s nothing wrong with me. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/19 "2018-03-14T13:39:48Z")
At the other end of the scale, Sheetz is one of the better sandwich joints out there, despite being a gas station. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535/20 "2018-03-14T14:00:54Z")
Once when I was young and naive, I found myself waiting for a ride at a gas station and decided to buy a sandwich from the cooler. The cashier refused to ring it up for me on general principle and told me to pick something else. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-eat-a-sandwich-from-the-gas-station/810535.md?page=2)