Readers might find the http://www.dairyscience.info/index.php/site-news.html - news item concerning consumer complaints about the operation of in-store bakeries by the major UK food retailers to be of interest. Quite a lot of bakery goods are unpackaged at these areas. While it is highly desirable to reduce packaging there is a need to avoid handling of products. Sneeze guards or lids on containers of unpackaged foods are good practice for obvious reasons and would be expected of major supermarkets.

The news item was written because of complaints from customers of two retailers. They provided photographs of young children 'sampling' bakery products and then returning them to their containers.

The next time you are near the bakery areas in major retailers have a look at what is happening. I would appreciate a photograph if you see anything interesting!

Following the article I have had Emails from employees of companies who have the elite BRC-A grade and work with the major retailers concerned. They wanted to follow up on my comment that that the till operator at one of the stores was aware of the problem but had no effective means of communicating the issue to their senior management. The comments concerned the imposition of whistle blowing policies on companies producing food for retailers and their surprise that the retailers did not appear to  have a similar policy for their own employees.