QF Cutlery

[tuapekastar]

I don't see the big deal over this. Its cutlery. I'm sure there are less germs on the plastic cutlery Qantas uses than there are germs on cutlery at a dining table in a restaurant or at your friends house.

If you were talking about a plastic scalpel being reused maybe the concerns would be justified.

I have to say I'm with you on this one. The plastic cutlery is washed and reused, just like the metal cutlery. What's the problem?

I think some peoples' issues are prompted by the fact that we typically associate plastic cutlery with 'throwaway', e.g. after a barbecue.

 

[Mal]

"Plastic" is not a synonym for "disposable"; "plastic cutlery" is not an automatic synonym for "disposable cutlery". It's called plastic cutlery because that is the material of which the cutlery is made of!

Some pubs use re-usable "plastic" glasses. They are treated exactly the same way that "glass" glasses are. I'm sure they get a lot more rough treatment than a Qantas plastic knife does.

I agree plastic utensils/plates/glasses etc are not the same as "throw away after use". There are various grades of plastic - why else do people have plastic storage containers around their house?

 

[samh004]

Do you know who cleans the cutlery? Do you where they are located? Have you inspected their facilities, procedures and general conditions of the site?

Do you?

It’s easy to bag someone or a corporation because you don’t know the facts, but considering this has been happening for a considerable amount of time and there aren’t a lot of sick people getting off Qantas flights, isn’t that enough proof that they’re doing things right?

 

[Danger]

Personally - and I fully respect others' opinions to the contrary - I can't believe Qantas is getting bad cred for this.

Qantas

"Plastic" is not a synonym for "disposable"; "plastic cutlery" is not an automatic synonym for "disposable cutlery". It's called plastic cutlery because that is the material of which the cutlery is made of!

I completely agree. The above article includes this gem:

"Although there is nothing to stop food businesses reusing disposable cutlery, it is by definition designed to be disposed of after use and using it outside the manufacturer’s instructions would not be recommended,” she said.

Who said it's disposable cutlery? So everything plastic is automatically disposable? We're not talking about the packs of 10 knives and forks you buy at the supermarket and take to a BBQ in the park.

 

[samh004]

Qantas

I completely agree. The above article includes this gem:

“Although there is nothing to stop food businesses reusing disposable cutlery, it is by definition designed to be disposed of after use and using it outside the manufacturer’s instructions would not be recommended,” she said.

Who said it's disposable cutlery? So everything plastic is automatically disposable? We're not talking about the packs of 10 knives and forks you buy at the supermarket and take to a BBQ in the park.

What I take from that quote is that she said manufacturers instructions, and I’m sure the manufacturers instructions in this case are that they need to be disposed of after 3 washes, or another higher limit and they try for 3 washes, per the original article. Or whatever the original number was, I thought it was 3 but I forget.

Does the writer know what the manufacturer intended for the cutlery produced for Qantas is?

Also, what sloppy writing here:

According to the report, the utensils are used by 19,000 passengers in their life cycle.

Really… each utensil is used by 19,000 passengers before it is disposed of? Sensationalist much?

 

[Mal]

Who said it's disposable cutlery? So everything plastic is automatically disposable? We're not talking about the packs of 10 knives and forks you buy at the supermarket and take to a BBQ in the park.

Yep, I just threw out my lunchbox, my tuppaware, my plastic coated flipper, my plastic coughtail stirrer, my icecube trays etc.

I can't risk the germs from such unsanitary items.

 

[anat0l]

my plastic coated flipper

You mean a spatula? Not the thing you wear when you go scuba diving:?: The latter does not usually come in contact with food

 

[Mal]

You mean a spatula?

Yeah Yeah. I couldn't think of the right term at the time

 

[Dee Thom]

Yep, I just threw out my lunchbox, my tuppaware, my plastic coated flipper, my plastic coughtail stirrer, my icecube trays etc.

I can't risk the germs from such unsanitary items.

I trust you also threw out all your various forms of money; metalic, paper, and plastic etc., as well

Cheers Dee

 

[oz_mark]

I trust you also threw out all your various forms of money; metalic, paper, and plastic etc., as well

Cheers Dee

You mean money and credit cards are re-usable? :mrgreen:

 

[anat0l]

I trust you also threw out all your various forms of money; metalic, paper, and plastic etc., as well

Cheers Dee

You mean money and credit cards are re-usable? :mrgreen:

To play the devil's advocate, one has to realise that all those things mentioned are notable examples of carriers of germs etc. perhaps more than QF plastic cutlery, however all of those things rarely come into contact with food and/or your mouth.

 

[Dee Thom]

To play the devil's advocate, one has to realise that all those things mentioned are notable examples of carriers of germs etc. perhaps more than QF plastic cutlery, however all of those things rarely come into contact with food and/or your mouth.

Hands to food to mouth.

Cheers Dee

 

[samh004]

To play the devil's advocate, one has to realise that all those things mentioned are notable examples of carriers of germs etc. perhaps more than QF plastic cutlery, however all of those things rarely come into contact with food and/or your mouth.

I’m sure the odds are high a child has touched the money you have now at some point, and we all know they’re dirty little things

 

[serfty]

You mean a spatula? Not the thing you wear when you go scuba diving:?: The latter does not usually come in contact with food

Except when one might employ one to swat/kick a fish unconscious and then have it for dinner!