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A national survey of potential cross-contamination resulting from kitchen cloths in domestic kitchen

Project Code: B02015

03/03/2011

Central Science Laboratory
Leuschner, R

The role of domestic kitchen cloths in the hygiene of the food preparation environment is dependent on their potential to retain bacteria, in particular food pathogens, and transfer them to food preparation surfaces.There may also be a potential for growth of food pathogens in cloths which may offer a moist and nutrient rich environment. We have established growth and survival characteristics in cloths and sponges in closed and open environments for food pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, E. Coli 0157, Listeria Monocytogenes, Campylobacter spp. and Staphylococcus aureus, and E. Coli as an indicator microorganism. Furtyhermore, the implications of the microbial load of cloths after 24 h incubation on cross-contamination onto a range of surfaces (wood, plastic, stainless steel, Microban and laminate), were investigated to establish how many bacteria would be found on each surface type and to estimate a transfer rate.

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