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Food saftey of premade box food on Amtrak during this virus?

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Food saftey of premade box food on Amtrak during this virus?
Posted by divebardave on Saturday, March 28, 2020 5:34 PM

If the trains start in NYC Penn and the box food is made in the New York/New Jersey metro area by a contractor who I have no idea who it is and they are not testing  and NY/NJ is the epicente of the virus how safe is my box lunch? How many workers hanlded my food at the factory vs the handfull of cafe car workers that used to cook breakfast and dinner?

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Posted by CMStPnP on Monday, March 30, 2020 4:18 PM

divebardave

If the trains start in NYC Penn and the box food is made in the New York/New Jersey metro area by a contractor who I have no idea who it is and they are not testing  and NY/NJ is the epicente of the virus how safe is my box lunch? How many workers hanlded my food at the factory vs the handfull of cafe car workers that used to cook breakfast and dinner?

Probably safer than if you made it in your own kitchen.

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Posted by Enzoamps on Monday, March 30, 2020 9:30 PM

One can ask the exact same questions about any prepared food you get from any scource.  Even local places "you know" like the deli down the street, do you "know" none of them are carriers?  DO you know none are infected?  DO you comeout and ask if all of them have been tested and do you then chose to do business or not?  Or the food they prepared, do you know who handled it before they did?  I for one have no reason to fear the Amtrak food any more than food from elsewhere.

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, March 30, 2020 11:12 PM

Enzoamps
One can ask the exact same questions about any prepared food you get from any scource.  Even local places "you know" like the deli down the street, do you "know" none of them are carriers?  DO you know none are infected?  DO you comeout and ask if all of them have been tested and do you then chose to do business or not?  Or the food they prepared, do you know who handled it before they did?  I for one have no reason to fear the Amtrak food any more than food from elsewhere.

The grocery store I frequent has shut down its deli section - no sliced to order meat or cheese or hand dipped salads.  Everything is prepackaged; it is unknown to conditions of those that did the packaging.

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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 6:58 AM

BaltACD
The grocery store I frequent has shut down its deli section - no sliced to order meat or cheese or hand dipped salads.  Everything is prepackaged; it is unknown to conditions of those that did the packaging.

And in all the ones I know, returns of  almost everything have been suspended (the exceptions essentially being for items that are routinely sanitarily discarded immediately anyway -- fresh foods, for example).  Stated reason is that they can reasonably control material that was in their store, or in 'chain of control' from their suppliers or warehouses, but not when it's been "out at random".  Note that this is completely divorced from any reasonable procedure or policy for effective segregation and viral sterilization of at least certain types of goods returned -- this is, in the published policies, to protect the employees who would have to accept the returns in the first place.  (And, more tacitly, to preclude discussions about the time and cost and assumed liability in sanitizing all returns before reshelving for sale.)

Both Kroger and Fresh Market have greatly increased their offering of 'meal kits' -- preselected sets of measured ingredients 'safely' in impervious wrap with presumably minimal 'virus-holding' characteristics (and that can safely be sanitized, or removed carefully in 'clean' conditions, without major risk of contaminating the materials within.  This would likely be a model for 'boxed Amtrak meals' going forward -- assuming you could trust Amtrak commissaries or suppliers to observe safe prep and chain-of-control in doing so.  (This begs questions like whether arthritic elderly can get tenacious shrink wrap off the box without 'tools' and without thoroughly contacting a great deal of exposed surface with considerable force... but that too can be worked into planning once some experience with the idea of full effective separation from virus contact is gained...)

As an associated precaution, some stores close early (nominally to do increased premise sanitizing for 'those at risk) and then have slightly extended 'special pre-opening hours' for folks over 60-65 to enter the clean store without social-distancing waiting in the open or cumulative exposure to 'handled' items on shelves.  In principle at least this is laudable.

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 8:11 AM

Overmod
As an associated precaution, some stores close early (nominally to do increased premise sanitizing for 'those at risk) and then have slightly extended 'special pre-opening hours' for folks over 60-65 to enter the clean store without social-distancing waiting in the open or cumulative exposure to 'handled' items on shelves.  In principle at least this is laudable.

In principle it is laudable, in practice, for this senior - it sucks!  Those senior hours are from 6 to 7 A f'n M.  I am on my 3rd REM sleep period at that time.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Miningman on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 9:29 AM

Our trading post delivers 8am-6:00pm about an hour or so after you call.  Free, in a box(s) to your door.  Only allow 2 people in the store at a time. You can get other things too, like socks, underwear, all types of clothing and footwear, blankets, towels, all that and if you really need a top notch fine selection of furs, beaver, lynx, mink, and so on.  Hides, leather, sweet grass, moccasins, coffee pots, whatever the heck you need. Watches and books too. Best butcher in town by a factor of ten. 

The CooP has no restrictions whatsoever and is mayhem. Have not been there since the last week of Feb. They have seniors hour 6:30am 7:30am ... are you nuts?, no thanks. 

 

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 10:21 AM

Miningman: Any confirmed Covid-19 cases within 25km of your trading post?  

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Posted by PJS1 on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 10:38 AM

BaltACD
 In principle it is laudable, in practice, for this senior - it sucks!  Those senior hours are from 6 to 7 A f'n M.  I am on my 3rd REM sleep period at that time. 

According to some of the feedback that I have picked-up, the geezer lines in central and south Texas are longer than the regular lines.  

Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII

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Posted by Miningman on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 11:00 AM

Charlie H. -- There are 40 confirmed in the North of Saskatchewan but exact locations are not disclosed.  20 are from a snowmobile/poker rally in Christopher Lake, about an hour and a half away. Our VP  got back from Mexico two weeks ago and is in isolation. There are 3 people in quarantine tested positive here at the local hospital in La Ronge. They were brought here from other outlying communities as we are the location of the only hospital. Have a hunch that things will escalate rapidly up here. I'm locked up tight, not going out there. The bank is closed, restaurants and bars all closed. College is closed. 

Started on line distance yesterday. This is new to me. Pretty much on my own, the students have been all set up now to receive lessons. 

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Posted by divebardave on Friday, April 3, 2020 2:12 PM

BaltACD
  Check out in Steam and Preservation topic- "Why do older people get up so early?"

 

 
Overmod
As an associated precaution, some stores close early (nominally to do increased premise sanitizing for 'those at risk) and then have slightly extended 'special pre-opening hours' for folks over 60-65 to enter the clean store without social-distancing waiting in the open or cumulative exposure to 'handled' items on shelves.  In principle at least this is laudable.

 

In principle it is laudable, in practice, for this senior - it sucks!  Those senior hours are from 6 to 7 A f'n M.  I am on my 3rd REM sleep period at that time.

 

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Posted by divebardave on Monday, April 13, 2020 3:45 PM

Just had a salad I picked up at the qukie mart...Now WHO picked my salad and are they safe?

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Posted by SFbrkmn on Monday, May 4, 2020 10:23 PM

Reason why it will be a very long time before I dine out. I'm scared right now and thats okay. May very well keep me safe. We may not think of food safety in terms of the employees who work in the business but many of us do now. We don't know if that kitchen worker has come to work w/a cold and is sneezing and coughing all over the place or has bad self habits or private lifestyles.                                 .About 30 years ago I dined once or twice at a family home style eating place, until I learned through the grapevine about the private lifestyle of the good looking waitress. I would not want people coming to work sick or having questionable lifestyle behaviors fixing or serving my food. Needless to say, I quit going to the diner when I heard certain gossip,that likely was true

 

that likely was true.                       .Food safety is serious business and nothing to turn ones back on in these uncertain times

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Posted by ghCBNS on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 12:33 PM

BaltACD

In principle it is laudable, in practice, for this senior - it sucks!  Those senior hours are from 6 to 7 A f'n M.  I am on my 3rd REM sleep period at that time.

 

The large grocery stores here also implemented Seniors Shopping for the first hour each morning from 7 to 8. They say there's been a lot of positive feedback and will probably keep it going post-Covid at least a couple of morning a week for seniors. 

For this senior it's great and so convenient. Half the people you would normally find shopping, one-way aisles now (which I hope they keep) Self check-out, bag my own groceries then I just 'tap to pay' with my VISA (no need to enter a PIN on the pad)......and out the door. No contact required with anyone!

 

 

 

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Posted by GERALD L MCFARLANE JR on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 2:34 PM

The current coronavirus is not transferable via food as far as science is concerned so no need to worry about the food itself...the packaging MIGHT be a different story.

The grocery store near me as designated 2 FULL days for seniors, Tuesday and Thursday, the only thing I didn't check was whether that's for 65 and over or 55 and over...hmm, I'll have to check as I qualify under the second criteria(which is used by a lot of places for discounts).

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 8:13 AM

GERALD L MCFARLANE JR
The current coronavirus is not transferable via food as far as science is concerned so no need to worry about the food itself...the packaging MIGHT be a different story.

The grocery store near me as designated 2 FULL days for seniors, Tuesday and Thursday, the only thing I didn't check was whether that's for 65 and over or 55 and over...hmm, I'll have to check as I qualify under the second criteria(which is used by a lot of places for discounts).

The grocery store I deal at has designated the 6 AM to 7 AM hour as being for 'seniors' without a specific age being specified and no identity check being made upon entering the store.  Went last Sunday during the senior time - so a number of people that were visually well shy of 60, for that matter they were well shy of 50.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by 54light15 on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 10:16 AM

Do these senior hours at the store offer a discount for seniors? It would have to be pretty substantial to get me out of bed to go shopping at 6 am. Plus, the female staff would all have to look like Kristina Hendricks and there had better be free beer. 

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 10:40 AM

54light15
Do these senior hours at the store offer a discount for seniors? It would have to be pretty substantial to get me out of bed to go shopping at 6 am. Plus, the female staff would all have to look like Kristina Hendricks and there had better be free beer. 

There is no 'senior discount' - I DO NOT set an alarm to wake up for them.  IF I happen to wake up in time, then I go.  If I don't wake up in time, I don't worry about it.

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Posted by jeffhergert on Saturday, May 9, 2020 3:52 PM

BaltACD

 

 
GERALD L MCFARLANE JR
The current coronavirus is not transferable via food as far as science is concerned so no need to worry about the food itself...the packaging MIGHT be a different story.

The grocery store near me as designated 2 FULL days for seniors, Tuesday and Thursday, the only thing I didn't check was whether that's for 65 and over or 55 and over...hmm, I'll have to check as I qualify under the second criteria(which is used by a lot of places for discounts).

 

The grocery store I deal at has designated the 6 AM to 7 AM hour as being for 'seniors' without a specific age being specified and no identity check being made upon entering the store.  Went last Sunday during the senior time - so a number of people that were visually well shy of 60, for that matter they were well shy of 50.

 

The times set aside in the morning are also for those non-seniors who may have underlaying health conditions that make them more susceptible to the adverse complications of the virus.  I think one of our local stores even says mothers to be and mothers of new borns are included.  This store also asks to limit shopping to one family member when possible.

Jeff 

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, May 9, 2020 4:13 PM

jeffhergert
 
BaltACD 
GERALD L MCFARLANE JR
The current coronavirus is not transferable via food as far as science is concerned so no need to worry about the food itself...the packaging MIGHT be a different story.

The grocery store near me as designated 2 FULL days for seniors, Tuesday and Thursday, the only thing I didn't check was whether that's for 65 and over or 55 and over...hmm, I'll have to check as I qualify under the second criteria(which is used by a lot of places for discounts). 

The grocery store I deal at has designated the 6 AM to 7 AM hour as being for 'seniors' without a specific age being specified and no identity check being made upon entering the store.  Went last Sunday during the senior time - so a number of people that were visually well shy of 60, for that matter they were well shy of 50. 

The times set aside in the morning are also for those non-seniors who may have underlaying health conditions that make them more susceptible to the adverse complications of the virus.  I think one of our local stores even says mothers to be and mothers of new borns are included.  This store also asks to limit shopping to one family member when possible.

Jeff

My store has set aside particular parking spots for the mothers you mention.  In the 6-7AM window, those spots have not been in use.  Until this week 6 AM has been BEFORE Sunrise.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by CMStPnP on Monday, May 11, 2020 4:10 AM

Some of the food stores in Texas used to be 24 by 7, not sure if they still are.   The Kroger signature store across the street from my subdivision is open until 1:00 a.m.   I always go at midnight and fly through the store in about 40 min without a mask no issues.    There might be 6-10 people in the whole store, use the kiosks to checkout.   Never get within 20-30 feet of anyone.

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