07.mar.07
Aspen Daily News (CO)
Christine Benedetti
According to a new Colorado state law, "bare-hand contact with any food that is ready-to-eat or not subject to any further cooking" is prohibited as of March 1, according to a statement released by the city of Aspen on Tuesday.
The story says that means everything from lettuce on a sandwich to the lemon in a vodka and soda can't immediately touch bare hands before going to the customer. Employees are now recommended to use gloves, tongs and other serving utensils in food preparation going directly to a customer.
The story adds that the regulation is designed to protect people from food-borne illnesses that can be contracted in eateries.
Calls to a handful of local establishments on Tuesday afternoon found many managers in the dark about the new rule. One claimed no comment while another said he wanted to see it on paper.