Sticking your semi-post-Covid hands into a bowl of M&Ms

[clifffaith]

So would you be squeamish eating out of a community bowl of M&Ms, mixed nuts, or chips this holiday season? Are people blowing out candles on birthday cakes? Is there new party etiquette in post-pandemic America? Asks the woman who just bought a mega sized bag of Christmas colored M&Ms and realizes they probably need to have a spoon stuck in them. Ditto the nuts. Do chips need salad tongs ??!!

 

[MrockStar]

So would you be squeamish eating out of a community bowl of M&Ms, mixed nuts, or chips this holiday season? Are people blowing out candles on birthday cakes? Is there new party etiquette in post-pandemic America? Asks the woman who just bought a mega sized bag of Christmas colored M&Ms and realizes they probably need to have a spoon stuck in them. Ditto the nuts. Do chips need salad tongs ??!!

Depends where it is, if at a family only house party no worries. If its at a work party I will just wash my hands first.

 

[PigsDad]

Personally, I always though having some kind of dispensing method vs. bare hands always made sense, long before the pandemic. With that said, Covid and its variants rarely is contracted via fomite transmission -- it is almost exclusively via aerosols (ref). So it really isn't an issue other than the "ick" factor.

Kurt

 

[DaveNV]

Having had a total of five Covid vaccine and booster shots now, I figured I was pretty immune to catching it. I still caught it in June, most likely on our way home from NYC. So I wash my hands as often as seems prudent, and I avoid deliberate exposure, but it is what it is. If someone is going to catch it, they'll catch it.

Now, having said that, I'd suggest using a little scoop or spoon, and those little paper soufflé cups so people can serve themselves a small portion. Ask them to use the cups, to reduce contact of the spoon bowl with the person's bare hands. Alternate idea: Serve the M&Ms ahead of time into those soufflé cups, and leave the big bowl behind the scenes.


Dave

 

[Passepartout]

Better yet, hand out individually packaged portions. Pre-Covid, there was always a reception after symphony concerts with cookies and punch. The cookies were placed on a napkin and cups of punch were poured. But after the college auditorium was shut down for 1 1/2 years, there are no receptions. No cookies, no punch. No goodies at art gallery openings.

 

[elaine]

We wore kn95 masks for 2 years. No worries about Covid or flu from the M&Ms. I’d eat them at a house party-say up to 20 people, not at a bar, restaurant, hotel lobby, etc. I don’t know why I have that distinction. Maybe germs from those I know vs don’t?

 

[clifffaith]

Better yet, hand out individually packaged portions. Pre-Covid, there was always a reception after symphony concerts with cookies and punch. The cookies were placed on a napkin and cups of punch were poured. But after the college auditorium was shut down for 1 1/2 years, there are no receptions. No cookies, no punch. No goodies at art gallery openings.

I did figure I’d make zip lock snack sized bags (approx 6”x3”) and put them on the hall table outside my door the day after the party if I had leftovers — otherwise I’d end up eating them myself!

 

[rboesl]

It's an interesting question. I kind of wonder why a similar question wasn't asked regarding Halloween candy the kids bring home from all those different people that were handing it out. Yeah, I know the candy is wrapped. But the kids have to handle it to unwrap the prize inside.

Personally, I didn't consider the question before I saw the original post. But, then again, I play poker weekly and even before Covid poker chips were some of the dirtiest objects you could handle. I've seen and handled poker chips that actually had a visible build up of dirt from all the handling. Granted you don't eat poker chips but isn't just the contact you're worried about? Once it's on your hands it's everywhere.

 

[clifffaith]

It's an interesting question. I kind of wonder why a similar question wasn't asked regarding Halloween candy the kids bring home from all those different people that were handing it out. Yeah, I know the candy is wrapped. But the kids have to handle it to unwrap the prize inside.

Personally, I didn't consider the question before I saw the original post. But, then again, I play poker weekly and even before Covid poker chips were some of the dirtiest objects you could handle. I've seen and handled poker chips that actually had a visible build up of dirt from all the handling. Granted you don't eat poker chips but isn't just the contact you're worried about? Once it's on your hands it's everywhere.

Good point— between us we play bridge, chess, spite & malice, pony canasta, Mexican train and Rummikube. So we are passing tiles and cards around. Not necessarily putting our hands in our mouth, but certainly putting our hands near our face.

 

[pedro47]

Having had a total of five Covid vaccine and booster shots now, I figured I was pretty immune to catching it. I still caught it in June, most likely on our way home from NYC. So I wash my hands as often as seems prudent, and I avoid deliberate exposure, but it is what it is. If someone is going to catch it, they'll catch it.

Now, having said that, I'd suggest using a little scoop or spoon, and those little paper soufflé cups so people can serve themselves a small portion. Ask them to use the cups, to reduce contact of the spoon bowl with the person's bare hands. Alternate idea: Serve the M&Ms ahead of time into those soufflé cups, and leave the big bowl behind the scenes.


Dave

That is a great suggestion to use a scoop or a spoon.

 

[am1]

That is a great suggestion to use a scoop or a spoon.

Until the scoop falls into the bowl and gets just as dirty. Not a fan of shared bowls. Or personal used utensils taking food from a community serving plate. Even if they only directly touch what they are taking. (Steak).

 

[pedro47]

Until the scoop falls into the bowl and gets just as dirty. Not a fan of shared bowls. Or personal used utensils taking food from a community serving plate. Even if they only directly touch what they are taking. (Steak).

Ok. Sound liked for Christmas candy's,
I will purchased individuals candy's packages for distribution.

 

[TheHolleys87]

I wouldn’t worry about COVID-19. I’d worry about norovirus or any of the many other viruses and bacteria that could be transmitted that way.

 

[RX8]

I will just wash my hands first.

While I commend you for doing the right thing it doesn’t really matter that you washed your hands if the ten people before you didn't wash their hands.

 

[Brett]

So would you be squeamish eating out of a community bowl of M&Ms, mixed nuts, or chips this holiday season? Are people blowing out candles on birthday cakes? Is there new party etiquette in post-pandemic America? Asks the woman who just bought a mega sized bag of Christmas colored M&Ms and realizes they probably need to have a spoon stuck in them. Ditto the nuts. Do chips need salad tongs ??!!

yes, there is a new pary etiquette post-pandemic - tongs and scoops

 

[goaliedave]

Having had a total of five Covid vaccine and booster shots now, I figured I was pretty immune to catching it. I still caught it in June, most likely on our way home from NYC. So I wash my hands as often as seems prudent, and I avoid deliberate exposure, but it is what it is. If someone is going to catch it, they'll catch it.

Now, having said that, I'd suggest using a little scoop or spoon, and those little paper soufflé cups so people can serve themselves a small portion. Ask them to use the cups, to reduce contact of the spoon bowl with the person's bare hands. Alternate idea: Serve the M&Ms ahead of time into those soufflé cups, and leave the big bowl behind the scenes.


Dave

Vaccines are not meant to stop you catching covid, they are meant to keep you out of the hospital. Seems like everybody misunderstands this.

 

[goaliedave]

Most people don't wash their hands after going to the toilet or wiping/picking their nose or scratching their privates. So never do communal food - buffets, bowls of snacks, anything.

 

[geekette]

So would you be squeamish eating out of a community bowl of M&Ms, mixed nuts, or chips this holiday season? Are people blowing out candles on birthday cakes? Is there new party etiquette in post-pandemic America? Asks the woman who just bought a mega sized bag of Christmas colored M&Ms and realizes they probably need to have a spoon stuck in them. Ditto the nuts. Do chips need salad tongs ??!!

Spoons or measuring cups. Big no on hands in anything, which, for me, well predates pandemic.

ick.

 

[geekette]

Having had a total of five Covid vaccine and booster shots now, I figured I was pretty immune to catching it. I still caught it in June, most likely on our way home from NYC. So I wash my hands as often as seems prudent, and I avoid deliberate exposure, but it is what it is. If someone is going to catch it, they'll catch it.

Now, having said that, I'd suggest using a little scoop or spoon, and those little paper soufflé cups so people can serve themselves a small portion. Ask them to use the cups, to reduce contact of the spoon bowl with the person's bare hands. Alternate idea: Serve the M&Ms ahead of time into those soufflé cups, and leave the big bowl behind the scenes.


Dave

Like the soufflé cups idea, I use coffee filters as snack holders a lot by myself at home.

For a party, I’d probably fill the cups ahead of time and set them out.

 

[DaveNV]

Vaccines are not meant to stop you catching covid, they are meant to keep you out of the hospital. Seems like everybody misunderstands this.

I agree, but naively tend to think if I've been vaccinated, I'm invincible. When I was seeking medical attention for my Covid infection, the doctor said the virus is in the population, and it isn't going away. He said it'll be with us, like the flu, from now on. All we can do is take precautions, and get updated vaccines as they are offered. My Covid case symptoms lasted only a few days, were generally very mild, and I never even had a fever. I was symptom-free by the fifth day, but tested positive for another week and a half after that. No aftereffects. My doctor said that light case was likely due to having had those vaccine shots.

Dave

 

[goaliedave]

I agree, but naively tend to think if I've been vaccinated, I'm invincible. When I was seeking medical attention for my Covid infection, the doctor said the virus is in the population, and it isn't going away. He said it'll be with us, like the flu, from now on. All we can do is take precautions, and get updated vaccines as they are offered. My Covid case symptoms lasted only a few days, were generally very mild, and I never even had a fever. I was symptom-free by the fifth day, but tested positive for another week and a half after that. No aftereffects. My doctor said that light case was likely due to having had those vaccine shots.

Dave

Exactly! You get it 100%. Most of the people i know misunderstand. Like you ive had 5 covid shots and no side effects, same as with every vaccine from childhood to today.

 

[DaveNV]

Exactly! You get it 100%. Most of the people i know misunderstand. Like you ive had 5 covid shots and no side effects, same as with every vaccine from childhood to today.

The Navy gave me more vaccines against more diseases than I've ever even thought about. A few days before my ship pulled into some port somewhere, there would be a mandatory lineup to get shots. Yellow Fever? Cholera? Hepatitis, in various types? Been there, got the shot. If I ever travel to weird places in the world, I'm pretty much covered. But not fool enough to think I can't catch the local disease. So far, I've been pretty lucky.

Dave

 

[mentalbreak]

Back to the m&ms. Depends on the crowd.

With immediate family and close friends, I would use a scoop or serving spoon.

If there is anyone beyond those that I would be comfortable sharing a VRBO with, only proportioned.

 

[Janann]

Tonight someone I know posted a picture on Facebook of a large, tightly packed, ready to serve charcuterie board that she had purchased. My first thought was yuck. The crackers are packed tight, so how many would you have to touch to get just one? And can anyone pull a couple grapes off a large bunch without touching a couple more?

If it was my party I would think about doing two or three boards, spreading things out on the boards, and then putting the boards on a couple different tables. Lately I really don't like the idea of a lot of people hovering around communal food all night.

COVID made me more aware of how we all share our germs. I'm not afraid of getting COVID from a charcuterie board, but I am afraid of catching an ordinary, run-of-the-mill illness from someone else's breath or hands.

 

[PrairieGirl]

This what I've always said will be the only potential "up side" from the Covid pandemic, that we might have learned a few habits that IF WE CONTINUE, will save us from some other pesky illnesses that were considered fairly routine and common. This is not meant in any way to minimize the horrific consequences of the pandemic, just a hope that many of the hygiene efforts that we have been making to combat it will have become ingrained.

In answer to the OP's question, I think that a serving spoon with containers or already portioning the m & Ms or nuts into those containers would be appreciated by the majority of your guests. And as a host it doesn't really add significantly more work or expense. But it's funny, until this thread, tongs for chips never crossed my mind!