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# Publisher’s Platform: How not to poison your date on Valentine’s Day – 8 steps for getting lucky
- URL: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2016/02/publishers-platform-how-not-to-poison-your-date-on-valentines-day-8-steps-for-getting-lucky/
- Published: 2016-02-07T04:52:27.000Z
- Updated: 2018-07-31T08:31:56.000Z
- Author: Bill Marler
- Tags: Opinion & Contributed Articles, food safety, Valentine's Day, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2025-11-25 10:59

[![valentines-dinner](http://foodsafetynewsfullservice.marlersites.com/files/2016/02/valentines-dinner-300x300-1.jpg)](http://foodsafetynewsfullservice.marlersites.com/files/2016/02/valentines-dinner-1.jpg?ref=foodsafetynews.com)

I met the love of my life years before I became a bit too paranoid about dinning out. Yet, with my thoughts on the [six foods I do not eat](http://bottomlinehealth.com/health-insider/6-things-this-food-safety-expert-wont-eatand-one-surprising-food-he-will/?ref=foodsafetynews.com) going viral world-wide, I was asked recently how to protect your Valentine’s Day date from barfing or experiencing diarrhea – clearly, neither a great start to a romantic evening. So, here are the things that are available to the romantic diners in all of us: Before you make the reservation:

1. Check Yelp, Urban Spoon, Facebook, Twitter – social media is a great way to figure out safer places to eat – if people are complaining, look somewhere else for that date place.
2. Perhaps go the day before Valentine’s Day – having a packed house is not necessarily conducive to a safe food evening.
3. Online Health Department Inspection Reports – more and more cities and counties allow you to see past inspections of the restaurant – here the past is a good indication of the quality of your meal.

When you show up:

1. Score on the Door – it is not hard to get an A in the restaurant business, and if there is not an A on the door, walk away.
2. If you are the only ones there – perhaps someone knows something you do not – again, walk away.
3. Is the restaurant clean – and, if the lights were turned up, would it still look clean – if not, walk away.

If you are still there, order drinks and excuse yourself to the bathroom:

1. Is the bathroom clean and well supplied and does the bathroom door open out (so you do not have to touch the handle) – if not, have your drink and ask for your check.

Ok, if you made it this far and your date has not left you:

1. Order things that are simple – well done meats and cooked vegetables, and a good glass of wine.

The good news is that even if you have ingested a pathogen, the incubation period (time from ingestion to first symptoms) is days and not hours. Here is to romance without vomiting and diarrhea. **(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click [here](http://www.foodsafetynews.com/subscribe/#.VrbRd8cbTdl).)**