Today is national World Health Day, a day we can specifically spend making sure we are living the healthiest and happiest life we can. This year’s theme is Food Safety. Luckily, here in the UK most of us have quite consistent access to clean water and freshly sourced produce – something we may often take for granted when food-borne and water-borne diarrhoeal diseases are killing an estimated 2 million people each year, including many children.
Having said this, we are still at risk of falling down to food safety if our preparation or cooking skills aren’t up to scratch. To celebrate World Health Day we have created a handy guide for you to ensure your food safety skills are Michelin star worthy: get in touch and we’ll email it to you
Get those marigolds at the ready
Most people think the most contaminated part of our homes might be the toilet, but in actual fact, the kitchen sink typically contains 100,000 times more germs than the bathroom. Avoid preparing food nearby, and try to keep your sink squeaky clean for when you are washing any foods prior to cooking.
Spongebob must be a sickly kid!
A used kitchen sponge can contain thousands of bacteria per square inch, including E. coli and salmonella. The sponge’s moist micro-crevices are a hotbed for germs and are difficult to disinfect. Make sure you replace sponges regularly.
Chop Chop!
The average kitchen chopping board has around 200% more faecal bacteria on it than the average toilet seat – yikes! Hygiene experts advise you to use separate chopping boards for red meat, poultry, fish and vegetables to ensure you are cross-contaminating your food with nasty bacteria.
Sticky Fingers!
Hands are the biggest spreaders of germs in the home. Studies show that hand washing lowers the transmission of diarrhoea and colds, and targeted disinfection at critical sites reduces the spread of infection in the home. Wash your hands frequently during the day with hot water and soap to prevent spreading germs. Wash them every time you’ve been to the toilet, and always before and after preparing food.