How Sanitary are Counter-Style Baked Goods versus Packaged Goods? In a local supermarket, the bakery section has a small cart-like unit that houses baked goods like croissants, bagels, etc. The cart has small boxes to store the food, tongs to pick it up, and a roof-like clear plastic shield. However, the boxes themselves are not individually covered (in contrast with a bulk bin or something similar, for example). 

My question is, are these open-air container bagels less sanitary than, say, a closed plastic package of bagels? I'd assume there would be greater chance of people coughing on them, touching and throwing them back, having pathogens being blown on them, etc. Is that significant?
A "chance"? yes...not "as sanitary"? yes...However, given that these markets are in business to stay in business and potentially subject to severe litigation at each possible instance of food borne illness that could have maybe-possibly-conceivably be laid at their doorstep by an over anxious [expletive-deleted] lawyer I would gauge the 'risk' as very low. Your mileage may vary.