Posted at the Taste of Home Community Forums

08-30-2005 9:45 PM
o JustCookin_AL

When cashiers lick their fingers to open plastic bags

Does that gross you out? I don't want to pick up the shopping bag after someone has licked her/his fingers in order to open it or pick it up. I wish they would keep a damp sponge or some "tacky finger" beside the cash register for that purpose. Imagine the germs they put into their own mouths after they have handled all the groceries and money.

08-30-2005 9:47 PM In reply to
o OhioLilacLady

RE: When cashiers lick their fingers to open plastic bags

That is absolutely GROSS !!!

I have worked retail for nearly 30 years and I have NEVER done such a thing ...And, I hope I never see a co-worker do it either.

YUCK !!!

08-30-2005 9:53 PM In reply to
o HomestyleAR

RE: When cashiers lick their fingers to open plastic bags

That doesn't bother me too much. The person putting their finger in their mouth is taking a bigger risk than I would be by touching the bag. Touching the shopping cart handle is more dangerous as far as picking up germs.

08-30-2005 10:12 PM In reply to
o Rose301__PA

RE: When cashiers lick their fingers to open plastic bags

Hi JustCookin!!!!

Never seen that done with the bags but have seen tellers at banks do it and cashiers at grocery stores lick their fingers before giving bills back.

08-30-2005 10:13 PM In reply to
o ChatterPoochie

RE: When cashiers lick their fingers to open plastic bags

Oh, these are things I try so hard not to notice, because I tend to obsess...

About a month ago, I was standing in line waiting to pick up my prescription from Wal-Mart (why does EVERYTHING always occur at Wal-Mart,lol?) when the pharmacy take was sitting on a stool talking on the phone to my insurance carrier all the while digging at her footie socks that were creeping down into her tennies. She hangs up, walks over to the counter and starts shoveling my pills into the container with one of those plastic knife thingies and in the process of course she has to help it along with a couple of sweeps of the "shoe picking" fingers, GROSS!!! Did I mention something to her about it? No. Did everyone I told this story to get mad at me for not? Yes.

08-30-2005 10:13 PM In reply to
o JustCookin_AL

RE: When cashiers lick their fingers to open plastic bags

Hi Rose, Is your state getting pounded by Katrina?
We had 50 mph winds and trees down.
Glad she is outta here, hope she doesn't do damage there.

08-30-2005 10:14 PM In reply to
o ChatterPoochie

RE: When cashiers lick their fingers to open plastic bags

pharmacy *tech* not "take", lol.

08-30-2005 11:09 PM In reply to
o Rose301__PA

RE: When cashiers lick their fingers to open plastic bags

Ruth, no we're okay here. Got a little rain today but we're to get a bunch tomorrow and Thursday. Calling for creek flooding but not the river.

08-31-2005 12:02 PM In reply to
o Lemonfan

RE: When cashiers lick their fingers to open plastic bags

Justcookin I'm like you. Yick! I don't even want anybody licking the paper I have to touch.

Click here to see the thread

Frank C. writes in gather.com

Two weeks ago at a supermarket two streets over from the office where I work, I bought a few items for lunch. The cashier asked me if I wanted my items in a bag. When I told her yes, she licked her fingers and reached for a bag, opened it and put my purchases in the bag.

Last week I went to a sandwich deli near my office and bought a sandwich to go. The guy working there asked me if I wanted my sandwich and chips in a bag. When I said yes, he licked his fingers and reached for a bag, opened it and placed my food inside.

Yesterday I bought some milk and fruit at a convenience shop on the ground floor of the building where I work. You can probably see this coming, but the cashier licked his fingers, opened a bag and filled it with my items.

I'm not germophobic nor do I think I've already become a cantankerous old git. But I'm really sick and tired of people licking their fingers to turn pages, sort paper or-most egregiously-put my food purchases in a bag.

Clink link to his post

Dr. Marian Sonnenfeld writes in the Boston Globe:

THE FLU is rampant once again. A potential disease-spreading behavior that has flown under the radar for far too long is the habit of licking one's fingers to gain traction before picking up papers or opening plastic bags. Sales clerks frequently do this. While it makes the immediate task easier, this practice raises public health concerns since it directly transfers saliva containing bacteria and viruses to materials that are then handed to others. The practice is ubiquitous, even occurring in doctors' offices.

I expect this act is so unconscious that many people are completely unaware of it. It is unhealthy for everyone, including its practitioners, since every time they bring fingers to lips they are bringing whatever germs they've picked up from the surfaces they've touched.

Inexpensive fingertip moisteners can be purchased at office supply stores, and employers should provide these or similar devices at registers and other locations where workers may be handling papers or currency.

Click here to read more of her article here.

Geneva H. posted her opinion in the Medical News Today:

Frustrated while fumbling to open a plastic bag in the produce section, I asked a grocery clerk what the secret was. She advised me: "Lick your fingers!"

I looked around me and, sure enough, this is exactly what the other people were doing: licking their fingers, pawing over the fruits and veggies, and then licking their fingers again to open the next bag. Undoubtedly, some of those people also failed to wash those fruits and veggies after they got them home.

Here's a link to her post:

From Erika W.'s post in Germfreak:

I am astounded by the number of retail workers that lick their fingers to either separate out their money or open bags. In Wal-Mart, my cashier, who definitely needed dental work, decided to lick her fingers in order to distribute the change to the man in front of me. She not only did this once, but then again as she handed him the money as she counted it out. She then wetted her fingers several more times during my transaction to “open” the bags and stuff the merchandise within.

Am I the only one who thinks this is repulsive? Germs are spread by picking up a virus on your hands and then touching your face, particularly the eyes, nose, or mouth. Can you fathom the amount of viruses being passed from person to person because of this intolerable habit?...

Link to the post