Kitchen's unexpected bacteria hotspot: Spice containers, study finds
12:51 PM EDT, June 11, 2024
Sponges for washing dishes, cloths, and cutting boards have long topped the notorious list of kitchen utensils most swarmed by bacteria. However, recent research indicates another place that serves as an even greater hotspot for microbes.
Maintaining order in the kitchen is not just a matter of aesthetics. It is also about ensuring hygiene in the place where we prepare food. Sponges, cloths, and cutting boards have long been known to be breeding grounds for bacteria. However, these are not the only culprits.
Where are the most bacteria found in the kitchen?
Research conducted by scientists from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 2022 shows that spice containers carry the largest contaminants in the kitchen. Moreover, these contaminants can be dangerous to health. An experiment by scientists demonstrated that nearly half of the spice containers used in the study were contaminated with salmonella. The findings were published in the "Journal of Food Protection."
According to scientists, the presence of salmonella in spice containers is due to neglecting them during cleaning after cooking and insufficient washing of dishes and utensils. Kitchen accessories get contaminated very easily—it only takes preparing contaminated meat, and the contaminants present on our hands then transfer to every object we touch.
"Our research shows that any spice container you touch when you’re preparing raw meat might get cross-contaminated. You’ll want to be conscious of that during or after meal preparation," explained Donald W. Schaffner, Professor of Food Science at Rutgers University and co-author of the study.
Most contaminated places in the kitchen
Interestingly, the soap dispenser takes second place in the notorious ranking created by scientists from Rutgers University. Other bacterial hotspots include sinks, pet bowls, and coffee maker reservoirs. It’s also worth remembering that bacteria can transfer when using phones to search for recipes.
Emphasizing the importance of disinfecting surfaces and kitchen appliances is essential. We can't forget about regularly replacing dishwashing sponges and kitchen cloths, among the primary sources of bacteria. Another crucial aspect is preventing cross-contamination. Cross-contamination is the process of transferring microorganisms from one contaminated product to another.
Such situations can occur if, for instance, dishes used to store raw meat or a cutting board where it was sliced are later used to prepare other products. This is why it's so important to isolate these items always, thereby preventing the transfer of bacteria.
