
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 10, 1993                   TAG: 9308100615
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SANITATION NOT SEXIST ISSUE

IN RESPONSE to McArthur Ingram's July 23 letter ("No `extras' in the food, please") regarding women, food, hairnets and hands, I say this:

Please think before you speak. I do agree with the statement regarding the use of hairnets in the work place as well as the washing of hands before handling money, but why single out women? We are not the only ones on this planet who have long or short hair, and we are not the only ones who handle money or use the bathroom (leaving before their hands are washed). All area restaurants, including fast-food, need to tighten up on their sanitary conditions and make cleanliness mandatory.

At lunch time one day, I sat in the drive through at a Salem area restaurant and watched as an employee went straight from putting money in the cash drawer to wrapping up burgers to serve without so much as stopping to put on gloves. Thank goodness the young woman who waited on me did use gloves. How many times a day do you think this happens in our area restaurants? While we, as consumers, have no idea what goes into our food and into our mouths. It makes you want to stay home.

So please, Mr. Ingram, do not single out women, as this is a serious problem for all involved - men and women.

DARLENE NAPIER\ SALEM

by CNB