Eating Grub?

Seeing and listening to the public, fast-food and business owners, and policy makers on the uncertainty of opening restaurants, the phrase “eat and run” comes to mind. Except now, the food deliverer runs and you the patron eats.

Bacteria, like people, also need to eat. Consider the yearly outbreak of E.coli. According to the Max Planck Institute for terrestrial Microbiology/Ni, in a January 22, 2020 paper, “Bull and Bear in the Bacterial World,” the authors point out that, “Like humans, bacteria in most ecosystems live with limited resources.”

Yes, and just like humans when we’re hungry and need to recharge, these bugs too need to feast and “Eat and run: when food is scarce, Escherichia coli increases its investment in motility.” Well, we humans are not only motile but mobile. Naturally ordering or eating out, especially in the current environment, may increase our chances of actually getting “the runs.”

In my February 19, 2019 paper, “Cars, Apps and the Power of Brand Image in the Digital World,” I noted “You don’t sell a product; you sell the image of a product.”

Revenue derives largely from the power of a company’s brand image. But in some cases, a marketing strategy needs to be reassessed to the situation at hand. In the case of a company’s image being tarnished, you continue to sell the service, not the name. In fact, drastic measures in rebranding such as changing a name or symbol can be avoided.

A few years back, a fast-food restaurant reportedly faced criticism for lacking food safety oversight resulting in its market shares plummeting. Any guesses? Hint: Food is quite spicey!

Once again, it appears they’re attempting to make a comeback with an old marketing plan – advertise their food as a delivery service you can easily access by downloading an app or in the current COVID-19 environment provide curbside pickup service.

Voilà! As in the past, there’s no need for you to concern yourself with dining at their facility where negative publicity surrounded their restaurant. They’ll just bring the product to you or you can pick it up and you can dine in the safety of your home! BTW, if you’re flipping the bill for your time and money in the pickup, whose paying for delivery?

In the wake of this pandemic, pick-up or delivery may shield you from contact with many others. But there is no guarantee of protection from a locale not being properly cleaned or sanitized. Or, from sick workers coming into contact with your food.

Also, a restaurant having little to no foot traffic may not necessarily change the conduct of those preparing food. If anything, have no prying eyes may actually provide an opportunity to those less inclined to follow hygiene protocols. Adding to the uncertainty are the inconsistencies of adhering to distance and wearing masks.

Ahh, isn’t digital dreamy! Suddenly, all is forgotten if not forgiven. Let this be a lesson to all you restaurants that have found yourself in not so good a light. Though you’ve taken a bad food restaurant experience in the real world and made it look good enough to eat in the digital world, let me remind you we’re now living in a deadly viral world.

Public Relations and Marketing were fast to promote “no contact” delivery. BUT, this ploy does not assure the public that workers handling food are practicing good hygiene or are not sick.

A year after I published my paper, COVID-19 hit. Suddenly, the concern was not only reports of pests in restaurants and poor food safety records but a virus and poor hygiene practices.

Just a little “food for thought” the next time you order a sandwich, burrito, pizza, etc… Think about the hands and fingers holding your food and adding your favorite toppings. What are the odds you’ll get sick? Ready to grub and gamble? :[