While shopping at Big C, I noticed a chinese man wandering around the meat and vegetable section. He had no shopping cart, no hand basket, and didn't have any items in his hands for purchase.

I went to the meat section to take a look. The man was at the counter, and picked up a strip of pork ribs with his bare hands. He took a few seconds to feel it, put it back, then picked up another piece, did the same thing. In all, he picked up four or five pieces.

When he was halfway through, I couldn't stand it anymore, and I told him "no, stop" and handed him a pair of tongs. He took the tongs, set them down, and proceeded to feel more meat.

I skipped the pork and picked up some chicken. When I was at the weighing counter, the man had moved onto the chicken bins, and started feeling again.

I pointed this out to the meat weigher, who had absolutely no response at all. Not a flinch. She stood there and watched him feel the meat. Even the local wet market vendors wouldn't let this happen.
 

 

No, shouldn't happen.

 

Do you cook your meat before eating?

 

Hope you managed to regain some sleep after a nightmare like this.

You should have felt his testicles -- with your knee. 

 

 

yuch!!

That kind of thing happens in the bakery section too, not only at Big C

Guess what happens in the kitchen of a restaurant.

Love it when a shop assistant puts latex gloves on to handle whatever food, and keeps them on to take your money.

Not unusual when the meat is displayed openly, no protection from coughing and sneezing either. Just hope that the cooking process kills off any bacteria. BTW, it's common for the Thais to have a feel of the meat as well.

OP you say the man was Chinese, how do you know that?

Maybe you chatted with him in MANDARIN, or did he say look at me i am Chinese?

6 minutes ago, colinneil said:

OP you say the man was Chinese, how do you know that?

Maybe you chatted with him in MANDARIN, or did he say look at me i am Chinese?

Maybe he only came up to his knees.

Become a vegetarian, then it won't bother you at all.

7 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Become a vegetarian, then it won't bother you at all.

People don't handle the vegetables?

Common practice in all meat sections of all supermarkets and outdoor markets....by Thais, only surprise in this story it is a Chinese person doing it not a Thai!

4 minutes ago, giddyup said:

People don't handle the vegetables?

Good point. However, one is less likely to contract food poisoning from vegetables - bacteria like protein more than carbohydrate.

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Good point. However, one is less likely to contract food poisoning from vegetables - bacteria like protein more than carbohydrate.

  In fact, fruits and vegetables have caused a number food poisoning outbreaks, particularly lettuce, spinach, cabbage, celery and tomatoes. Vegetables and leafy greens can become contaminated with harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria.

9 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Good point. However, one is less likely to contract food poisoning from vegetables - bacteria like protein more than carbohydrate.

The vegan BULL-etc. of the day.

 

45 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Guess what happens in the kitchen of a restaurant.

Some Chinese guy comes and pokes all the meat with his dirty fingers?

48 minutes ago, Valentine said:

That kind of thing happens in the bakery section too, not only at Big C

Yes. Normally I touch the raw meat, then make my way to the bread to give that a few pokes too.

That's nothing,to what happens,in the slaughterhouse,on

the way to the shop or market,if you seen half of it you

would become a vegan.

regards worgeordie

4 minutes ago, DeusExMachinaBKK said:

Yes. Normally I touch the raw meat, then make my way to the bread to give that a few pokes too.

I hope you zip up before you go home.

This happens all the time where I live, at Macro, Big C and the markets, add to that sneezing or coughing over the food as well.

And to the person who suggested vegetarian, have you never seen the dogs cocking their legs on the boxes of produce? and of course these are handled and sneezed over as well.

 

Its a minefield of germs and bacteria.

 

 

 

 

 

Common in the developed country that I live in is to observe shoppers squeezing the buns and then not buying them; yuck, there is no telling where their hands have been , especially if as noted by others, they might have been fondling the raw chicken before the buns. I avoid buying the buns that appear to have a "thumb or finger depression" in them. I prefer virginal buns. The meat that I buy is always packaged. I wouldn't know the difference by feel anyway.

Old saying, "your eyes are not in your fingers"

Thais have a habit of touching any food, even when we are eating with friends, especially the women, like to pick through the pieces of fried meat, until they find the right one! I tell my lady to stop that, but she never learns. Yes, if you go to the market and watch the food counters, especially the meat, you will see everyone PICKING, and they are not even Chinese!! Please, give the Chinese a break!

47 minutes ago, LennyW said:

Common practice in all meat sections of all supermarkets and outdoor markets....by Thais, only surprise in this story it is a Chinese person doing it not a Thai!

been to many outdoor local thai markets and touching meat was not the norm nor allowed

 

typically you would point out what you wanted and the vendor would plastic bag it using tongs

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

OP you say the man was Chinese, how do you know that?

Maybe you chatted with him in MANDARIN, or did he say look at me i am Chinese?

 

1 hour ago, Dexlowe said:

Maybe he only came up to his knees.

last time this happened to me the person in front of me was in a chair...

Hope the Chinese guy didn't find the sushi section.

Stick around and you will see flies doing the fandango over the exposed meat and small roaches waltzing among the vegetables.

 

Even in the Mall , which is a bit up market , I saw a wealthy looking woman stick her finger into one of the salad bar dips, suck it to check the taste , then use same finger to check out the other dips.

 

Unclean Thailand indeed.

33 minutes ago, neeray said:

Common in the developed country that I live in is to observe shoppers squeezing the buns and then not buying them; yuck, there is no telling where their hands have been , especially if as noted by others, they might have been fondling the raw chicken before the buns. I avoid buying the buns that appear to have a "thumb or finger depression" in them. I prefer virginal buns. The meat that I buy is always packaged. I wouldn't know the difference by feel anyway.

Old saying, "your eyes are not in your fingers"

My granny always said anyone who boils carrots and peas in the same pot is not sanitary.

1 hour ago, Dick Crank said:

been to many outdoor local thai markets and touching meat was not the norm nor allowed

 

typically you would point out what you wanted and the vendor would plastic bag it using tongs

You must have had the blinkers firmly in place, touching and handling the products very common practice here, very common..

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Become a vegetarian, then it won't bother you at all.

Considering a lack of toilets and wash basins in the fields I imagine they may not be as hygenic either  !