How Easily Can Germs Spread? Correct Cleaning is the Key!
Germs easily spread through poor hygiene and cross contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods.
Did You Know?
The number of germs on fingertips doubles after using the toilet. Yet up to half of all men and a quarter of women fail to wash their hands after they've been to the toilet!
© Food and Drink Federation (foodlink)
When should I wash my hands?
- before touching and eating food
- after handling raw foods such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, fruit and vegetables and before touching any other food or kitchen utensils
- after touching or emptying rubbish bins
- after going to the toilet or changing nappies
- after playing with pets; and
- after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
How to Wash Hands
We all think we know how to wash out hands but many of us don't do it properly.
Simply rinsing the tips of fingertips under cold water does NOT count.
Here are some reminders:
- Always use soap and warm water. It's better to wet hands before applying soap as this prevents irritation.
- Rub hands together vigorously for about 15 seconds, making sure both sides of the hands and wrists are washed thoroughly, around the thumbs, between each finger and around and under the nails.
- Rinse with clean water.
- Dry hands thoroughly with a clean dry towel, paper towel or under a hot air dryer.
- Germs spread more easily if hands are wet so dry them thoroughly.
- Use a clean dry towel, paper towel or air dryer; it doesn't matter which.
Did You Know? 1,000 times as many germs spread from damp hands than dry hands.
Other Personal Hygiene Tips
If you are ill, especially with any gastrointestinal problems, avoid handling foods for others.
- Cover all cuts, burns and sores and change dressings regularly - pay extra attention to any open wounds on hands and arms.
- Avoid working in the kitchen in soiled clothing - when cooking, use a clean apron but don't use it to wipe your hands.
- If you are preparing lots of food - for a family meal perhaps - take off your watch, rings and bracelets as well as washing your hands and wrists before you start. There could be as many germs under a ring as there are people in Europe. Millions of germs can also hide under watches and bracelets.
- Don't brush or comb your hair when you are in the kitchen or near food - a 1mm hair follicle can harbour 50,000 germs.
- Don't cough, sneeze, spit or smoke near food and avoid touching your nose, teeth, ears and hair, or scratching when handling food.
For more information contact| the Environmental Health & Licensing Division.
