Hand Hygiene in Food Handling
11 Jul 2022
Introduction
We are frequently advised to wash our hands before handling food. Why is practising good hand hygiene critical?
In this article, we explore various aspects of hand hygiene and its importance in food handling.
How do germs get onto our hands and the food we eat?
In the course of our daily activities, our hands inevitably come into contact with many surfaces where germs are present. Through these contacts, our hands become contaminated with germs, and act as vehicles to transfer germs to our food.
Some germs that can be found on our hands and can cause food poisoning include bacteria like S. aureus and E. coli. These bacteria can multiply rapidly when the food contaminated by the bacteria is left within the “ temperature danger zone” of 5oC – 60oC”, and cause food poisoning.
How does hand washing remove germs from our hands?
Proper hand washing can effectively remove many harmful bacteria and viruses such as E. coli, Salmonella, C. perfringens, S. aureus and norovirus. Proper hand washing involves two key aspects – the washing technique and drying.
The proper washing technique involves rubbing your hands together with soap and water for at least 30 seconds. Water by itself is ineffective in removing germs. Soap is needed to lift dirt, oil and germs off the skin, and the rubbing action helps to break up the dirt and germs.
The other aspect of handwashing is drying. Moisture enables the transfer of bacteria and therefore, it is important to dry hands thoroughly. The use of paper towels has been shown to be more effective than electric dryers for the drying of hands, as the rubbing action not only reduces the drying time, but also further removes residual germs. Reusable hand towels may be used but they should be changed frequently, especially when they become wet.
When should we wash our hands?
It is important to wash our hands before handling any food, especially food that is ready for consumption. In addition, we should always wash our hands after the following activities:
Handling raw food
Handling garbage and other waste material
Using the toilet
Touching money
Cleaning surfaces
Blowing nose or covering a cough or sneeze
The following 8 steps of hand washing are recommended:
Wash palms
In between fingers
On the back of hands
At the base of both thumbs
On the back of fingers
On fingernails
On both wrists
Rinse and wipe dry with paper towels
