Free samples of food for disgusting customers

I work in a local grocery store and in the department that I work are the most disgusting customers!!  Well, I work in the bakery and I handle the bread everyday so I have to put out bread and different dip samples.  I provide napkins,tongs to pick the pieces of bread up with, knives to spread each particular kind of dip with and people still grab the bread with their fingers and proceed to lick their fingers and try to put their hand back in the sample basket.

It makes me so mad because I don't want to be rude to my customers, but I don't want people to get sick.  I tried to ask my manager could I post a sign saying "PLEASE USE TONGS, THANK YOU."  But he said it was against store policy to post signs.

These samples are free and these customers treat me like they have paid for something.  They get mad when I move the samples away so I can clean my station after they have made a mess of it - unbelievable.  Well if this is how nasty and rude they are at the local grocery store, I can't help but wonder how are they in their own homes?

Some people even go as far as dipping their bread in the dip without using the knife provided, the end result being the dip gets contaminated quickly.  This is so annoying, after all I am just trying to look out for the safety of my other customers.  Sometimes I just want to yell at them and say "USE THE TONGS! THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR!!"  Why do these customers think I have them there?

Just remember this when you are next in a grocery store and there is a sign that says "Free Samples!"  Please have some consideration for the next customer who may wish to try a free sample and try not to be so disgusting.  Keep it clean, wash you hands and clean up after yourself.