I agree with all of that.....I was thinking more along the lines of some of these food scares - like eggs are bad for you, no they're good for you, etc.
I am very picky about my sushi and the Chinese buffets I go to. Many years ago, as favor to a friend (and a few extra bucks in my pocket) I waitressed at lunch at her Thai restaurant for a couple of months. This woman was so meticulous about hygiene and cleanliness that it bordered on obsessive, especially when she experimented with a buffet for dinner on weekends........I use that experience to base my judgement about eating from ANY buffet.
You're right about all the food scares. The latest around here is farmed Salmon. There's a slogan on one of our filing cabinets: "Friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon." First, a person is supposed to eat as much salmon as possible for the omega 3 oils and then, whoops, the salmon better be wild or they contain too many pcp's or ddt or whatever it is. However, it does make some sense. When I think of it, I try to buy organic milk and fruit, but I don't always think of it and it is not always available. I guess we have all survived this long, can't be too obsessive about it.
That is a good experience you had in the Thai restaurant. I had an aunt who once owned a restaurant/bar and she was like that. But then you see those hidden cameras about expired meat and how some restaurant workers have such poor hygiene.
I prefer to make my own food, even for lunch.