Hi Anbu. For basic reasons of hygiene in Germany, and many other countries, if one touches/picks up something in a 'self-service' restaurant then it is necessary to purchase that item.
This is for the sake of the person who would otherwise then pick up the plate or dish, not knowing someone had handled it first and what germs might have been passed onto it, and to the food it contains.
Actually, in Germany at least, this would very often be pointed out not only by anyone who was serving but also by other people in the queue. They can be very vocal in 'giving advice'.
Replacing a dish after first handling it would be considered a form of bad manners when done by anyone at all so, although you did have an embarrassing experience unfortunately, the 'good' side is it would have had no connection with any form of racism.
Last edited by Francine - German Culture; 06/20/13 09:32 AM.
Francine A. McKenna - German Culture Editor
German Culture Site -
German Culture Facebook Avatar: HOHENZOLLERNBRÃœCKE Cologne with CATHEDRAL and LUDWIG MUSEUM. The Bridge a symbol of how Germany was rebuilt after WWII, it was left in ruins, the Cathedral with roots in the 13th century represents the country's history, Museum of Modern Art the present day.
