Assessment of the Ability of Dishcloths to Spread Harmful Bacteria to Other Kitchen Surfaces and Detergents

• Project start date: 1 November 2011
• Project status: Completed
• Project type: Food safety
• Discipline: Microbiology and food hygiene
• Principal researcher/s: Prof David McDowell, University of Ulster, Jordanstown
• Collaborator/s: Single supplier

Research objective

Dishcloths are routinely used in many domestic kitchens to clean worktops and other contaminated food contact surfaces. The prospect that such dishcloths may actually harbour pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and subsequently facilitate the spread of these microorganisms during cleaning is of concern to safefood. 

Indeed a previous study commissioned by safefood showed that a range of foodborne pathogens survive on dishcloths for at least a day, and that such reservoirs of potentially dangerous bacteria may lead to cross contamination within the kitchen environment, thus increasing the possibility of food poisoning (McDowell et al. 2010).

This project built upon the outcomes of a previous dishcloth survey and provided solutions to consumers upon which advice can be based and communication activities designed.

Outputs

Research report

Other outputs

If You Could See Germs Spread

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