This afternoon at about 12:15, my husband and I entered Bagel Buddies of Wading River to purchase bagels for our family. We live in Virginia, and had come to Wading River to visit my parents. We were excited to get some ""New York Bagels"" this morning.\r
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Upon arriving, we noticed a young girl working behind the counter rub her eyebrow and her cheek with her gloves on, enter a customer's order into the cash register, accept their money, and then go make them a bagel sandwich without changing her gloves. \r
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The older woman ahead of us was then waited on, and a middle aged woman named ""Minu"" wokring behind the counter took the woman's money, while wearing her gloves, and then without changing her gloves, she straightened the doughnuts on the counter in front of her and then got the older customer's muffin. \r
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At this point I said ""Excuse me, you just touched money and then touched food."" ""Minu"" immediately became defensive and told me that ""It's fine, the health department said I can."" I explained to her that money is one of the dirtiest things, and that I'd like her to change her gloves before handling the bagels I wanted to purchase. She continued to be very confrontational and challenged me to call the health department. She walked away from me, did not take my order, and shouted ""good luck"" as we left the bagel shop. My husband re-entered the bagel shop to get the name of ""Minu"" which she gave to him before we left.\r
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I am concerned for a number of reasons. First, it seemed strange to me that she immediately referenced the Health Department in saying how they ""told [her] it was okay"" to handle money before touching food. I'm concerned at how confrontational she was as well. I'm disheartened that even after I asked her to change her gloves, she refused, and refused my business. Lastly, it is scary that this store will continue to serve food to people for the rest of the day (since I was told that there is no one on the weekends with whom I can file a complaint).\r
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A complaint will be filed first thing in the morning.
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