Germs – Everywhere!
A study from the University of Arizona found about two-thirds of grocery cart handles contained fecal matter. Eww! The study found the carts had more bacteria than restrooms. Next time you go shopping, wipe down the cart handle with a disinfectant wipe, which many stores are now offering.
Fecal matter contaminates about 25 percent of public restroom dispensers. The containers are mostly never cleaned, so bacteria grows as the soap scum builds up
Restaurants are unlikely to regularly clean their condiment dispensers – and chances are the consumers using them aren’t washing their hands. You may want to use hand sanitizer after using the ketchup or mustard on your table.
Nearly 70 percent of the lemon wedges on the rims of restaurant glasses contain disease-causing microbes, according to a 2012 study in the Journal of Environmental Health. Researchers ordered drinks at 21 different restaurants and found 24 different microorganisms lingering on the 65 lemons they secured, including E. coli.
A recent study in the Journal of Medical Virology reported cold and flu viruses can survive for 18 hours on hard surfaces. In a popular restaurant, hundreds of people could be touching the menus, passing their germs to you – and the staff may or may not be wiping them down. Don’t let a menu touch your pace or silverware, and wash your hands after you place your order.
