Originally Posted by
mapleg
At my workplace I always use plastic disposable utensils in the company cafeteria/lunchroom. I shudder to think of using a fork that has been in some other person's mouth.
I really hope you wash the plastic utensils first - most plastic goods are made in factories with less-than-ideal sanitation conditions (everything from the workers who are touching the finished product not washing their hands, through to the cardboard box materials being stored in industrial areas with rats and mice running rampant. Quite often those plastic forks are in contact with the cardboard, but even those individually plastic wrapped are not sterile.
I'd wager a fork that has been through a cafeteria dishwasher (which uses very hot water) is more sanitary than an unwashed plastic fork.