Are the restaurant tables you eat at clean? Do they harbor potentially harmful bacteria? Do different types of table coverings, e.g., cloth covered, laminated or glass offer more or less sanitary dining surfaces? 
 
Researchers at the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, recently have grappled with these and other questions as part of a scientific research project. Their initial results show that tables topped with linen provide a great degree of protection for restaurant customers than a bare table. A second phase of the study will help quantify the results. 
 
TRSA has supported this effort ...