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!

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/

 

Global Home Hygiene Study

Earlier this year we were commissioned by the Hygiene Council to undertake a first-of-its-kind study, looking at home hygiene across the globe. Bacteria can be introduced to the home in a number of ways including human transmission, pets and food stuffs.  Effective household and personal hygiene practices are essential to maintain a healthy, safe home environment for the family.

 

The study assessed the level of contamination at various sites in regular family homes. The results were analysed to determine the level of possible exposure to harmful germs in homes and address whether there is a need to review our cleaning habits and take action to improve them. The home swabbing study was carried out in homes in seven different countries (UK, USA, Germany, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia & India). 

 

The results demonstrated a need, particularly in some countries, for better understanding of kitchen hygiene and the impact on food safety.

 

The research revealed that Britain is the dirtiest country in the developed world, with the dirtiest item found world-wide being the kitchen cloth – a potential bacterial bomb. Extremely high levels of bacteria, including indicators of faecal contamination, pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus were found on many cloths. If the kitchen cloth is so dirty, then all surfaces it touches will become contaminated; in fact the kitchen cloth is the antithesis of cleaning – it should be called the contaminating cloth not the cleaning cloth!

 

The contamination of hand-contact surfaces such as taps and refrigerator handles showed a need to improve hand-washing, but of course if taps are contaminated, the effect of hand washing is negated as soon as the tap is touched to switch it off. Therefore cleaning regimes in the home must include sanitising taps on a regular basis, and there needs to be an awareness of how contamination can spread after handling raw meat, poultry and other contaminated objects.

 

Visual appearance is not a reliable indicator of cleanliness or bacterial levels. Some areas were described as visibly clean and found to be very heavily contaminated. This is important, because it shows the need for education to stress that bacteria are invisible to the naked eye. One person using a kitchen after another has previously prepared raw poultry will not be able to see high numbers of organisms such as Salmonella, Campylobacter or E.coli, which could have been left behind.

 

The best way to protect your family from bacteria is to clean hygiene hotspots, like taps and kitchen surfaces, on a regular basis with a quality disinfectant or antibacterial cleaner. Don’t forget to use an antibacterial cleaner when using a kitchen cloth, and replace your cloths regularly. You could use disposable antibacterial wipes, or soak cloths in disinfectant liquid overnight to kill bugs. If you’re using a dirty cloth to clean, then you’re not cleaning anything at all.

 

For more details of the findings of the study go to : www.hygienecouncil.co.uk