Global Hygiene Study

The results of the Global Hygiene Study, (conducted by Hygiene Audit Systems with Tonic Life Communications on behalf of the Hygiene Council), were revealed last week. I was interviewed by over 15 radio stations on the results and implications. Contrary to what the householders thought, the dirtiest item in the study of UK homes was the kitchen cloth, followed by the kitchen tap (probably wiped with the dirty kitchen cloth!) Only 15% of households in the survey disinfected their cloths, which could explain why 85% of the cloths tested failed! Interestingly in the UK 90% of respondents said that they would change their habits in the home if the study’s finding suggested they should. This is great news – hopefully householders will take the messages about cleaning cloths on board and change their habits, switching to disposable cloths or ensuring the kitchen cloth is changed or laundered more frequently – and at a high enough temperature to kill bacteria. Most householders thought that the dirtiest site in the home would be the toilet flush handle. This shows that we need to get the focus of disinfection into the kitchen, where the cloth could be spreading harmful bacteria on to food and hand-contact surfaces.

In the food industry the cloth is of course also a vector of disease of course, and I am sure a similar survey would uncover equally alarming results, and indeed Watchdog and Rogue Restaurants have found some very grotty specimens!

 Shortly I will be putting up a video demonstrating how bacteria can spread around the kitchen using a dirty cloth – watch this space!

Salad washing and more on dirty cloths

This week we heard about a catering company who ran into trouble after a member of staff failed to correctly dilute the chlorine tablet being used to sanitise salad items. The result? Two customers were admitted to A&E with nasty burns to the mouth and throat. This highlights the need for extreme vigilance when using chlorine as a means of washing and sanitising fruit and veg. It also demonstrates the wisdom of those choosing to change produce washing methods to non-toxic alternatives such as Fit wash. For too long, chlorine has been the only choice of produce wash for the food industry – and has been responsible for many complaints and accidents. Fit wash offers a better, safer, equally-priced alternative which actually cleans where chlorine doesn’t. I think it could soon be replacing chlorine as the new industry standard. Between 1992 and 2007 there have been 120 outbreaks of food poisoning associated with salads and vegetables, and yet it seems crazy that the way in which we try to avoid further outbreaks, is by washing our food in a potentially harmful chemical!

Dishcloth Saviour!

Dr Lisa Ackerley has been dubbed the ‘Superhero of the Sink’ by Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans. Speaking on his show last week (25th Feb), Lisa described how germs can be spread around the kitchen by the use of dirty dish cloths. Using evidence gathered during the Home Hygiene study we carried out for the UK Hygiene Council, Lisa confirmed that cloths are the antithesis of cleaning. The examples of cloths we collected and analysed were found to be heavily loaded with bacteria and dirt, some even carrying E. coli – not something that should be spread around kitchen surfaces and equipment, as it can cause serious illness if transferred to food. To listen to the Radio 2 interview and recommendations on safe cloth usage, please follow the link below.

 

Listen again http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/evans/