Our tea towels could be responsible for food poisoning

Published on 04/25/2024 03:52

In our kitchens, tea towels dry hands, plates, dishes and cutlery. But some bacteria nested in the tissues are responsible for food poisoning.

The tea towels of our kitchens hide many secrets, they are harmful for our health. According to a study presented on June 9, 2018 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Microbiology, scientists from the University of Mauritius (Mauritius) examined the hygiene of tea towels. And they would be real nests for bacteria.

The main reason is that they are used for various reasons: both to wipe hands, dishes, even tables and worktops.

One hundred kitchen towels were analyzed by the scientists. Of these, 49 were composed of many bacteria. After one month of use, 36.7% developed coliforms, 36.7% enterococci and 14.3% staphylococcus aureus.

The presence of bacteria on these tissues that we use daily can lead to food poisoning. The microbes spread in mass because the tea towels are handled by several people and placed on the furniture.

According to the BBC, large families, non-vegetarian diets and hygiene methods influence the spread of microbes in the kitchen . Households that consume meat are more likely to develop enterococci and coliforms.

Good habits to adopt

To fight against bacteria, good hygiene rules are to be adopted. Ideally, you should change your clothes every day after a washing up session. Otherwise, it is important to change them at least every two or three days. To eradicate any bad germ, it is advisable to wash them at 60 degrees Celsius and disinfect them.

To limit the spread of microbes, it is also recommended to have several tea towels: one for dishes, one for the hands, and one for surfaces, for example. To handle certain tasks, it is best to use single-use paper towels or paper towels.

"Wet washcloths and multi-purpose tea towels should be banned, especially for large non-vegetarian families with young children and the elderly, and you have to be careful about hygiene in the kitchen," he says. and Susheela Biranjia-Hurdoyal, lead author of the study.

* www.asm.org/index.php/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/95944-kitchen-towels-could-contribute-to-the-growth-of-potential-pathogens-that-cause-food-poisoning