X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

3 in 10 people do not wash their hands before meals!

4 min read
3 in 10 people do not wash their hands before meals!

Aside from the toilet, our kitchen is the only other room in the house where most germs and bacteria that are naked to the human eye reside.

Before we tell you about healthy kitchen tips. Here are some interesting statistics about kitchen cleanliness that surprised us.

  1. In a survey of 20,000 adults, 25% of men and 14% of women did not routinely wash hands with soap after handling raw meat or poultry. 
  2. Closer to home, AC Nielsen discovered that 3 in 10 Singaporeans do not wash their hands before meals and 5 in 10 do not wash their hands after meals.

Dr Leong Hoe Nam, an Infectious Diseases Specialist, explains that specks of the meal hidden in the crevices of your finger nails are “buffet meals for bacteria”. He urges the practice of good hygiene to minimize the chances of contracting food borne diseases like Salmonella and E-coli.

“We can’t get rid of bacteria, so we have to learn to protect ourselves against it,” said Dr Leong, further emphasizing that the bacteria transference is often made with our hands. 

Hence, it is essential for us and our food handlers to practice good hygiene as bacterial lurk on any surface – sink, counter tops, chopping boards etc.

3M offers these Healthy Kitchen Tips

1. Wash your hands in warm, soapy water

Wash your hands in warm soapy water before and after preparing food. This is one of the most important healthy kitchen tips. 

2. Clean Kitchen surfaces after every stage of preparing your recipe.

Try to ‘clean as you go’. This is to prevent cross-contamination as raw meat, poultry, fish, eggs and many other raw foods are the most common sources of germs.

3. Always use a separate cutting board for raw and cooked food.

The juice from raw meat contains harmful bacteria that can make one very ill.  If possible, avoid wooden chopping board which over time will have many small cuts or scratches where bacteria thrives in.  Even a very tiny opening on the surface of a cutting board can harbour more bacteria than you like to think about.

4. Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly before preparing.

Scrub fruits and veggies with a brush and cut away any bruised or damaged parts of the food as bacteria thrive in these areas.

5. When cleaning cooking utensils, use the right sponge to clean according to the materials.

Different types of utensils are used when cooking – some are made of ceramics, while others are made of glass or plastic.  Always use the right sponge that is specifically catered to clean that category of utensils to effectively remove grit and grease while avoiding scratches.

licking spatula

6. When washing utensils, make sure every part is washed.

Do not forget to wash the bottom of the plates or the handle of the spoon and fork.  They are not as clean as you think.

7. Clean the sponge after every wash.

The sponges and brushes which are used to wash utensils grow bacteria easily, so it is important to take extra care of them.  Wash the sponges with plain clean water thoroughly, squeeze the excess water and leave them to dry before further use.

8. Use different clothes for different sections of your kitchen.

Never use a cloth that is for cleaning kitchen surfaces for wiping dry dishes.

9. Keep your kitchen surfaces clean.

Wipe down countertops with an antibacterial solution or sponge and paper towels to keep bacteria at bay.

10. Never let water sit, whether spilled on the counter, the floor, under the refrigerator, or simply is left from dishes stacked on the counter after rinsing.

Water can become a breeding ground for bacteria, especially if other substances such as dust are present.

11. Keep soap bars as dry as possible to avoid bacteria growth

 Or use liquid soap in a dispenser.

12. Do a ‘big’ clean of fridges, freezes, cupboards and surfaces at least once a week.

The above locations are prime spots for bacteria breeding if large quantities of food and drinks are stored. If you don’t remember any of our other healthy kitchen tips, this is the one to remember!

13. Do not submerge hot pans in cold water or cold pans in hot water.

Lukewarm water is best for cleaning non-stick pans.  Place a paper towel in a pan quarter-filled with water overnight to remove the grease.

Did you enjoy this article on healthy kitchen tips? Share your healthy kitchen tips in the comment box below. 

Partner Stories
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Meiling Wong Chainani

  • Home
  • /
  • Health
  • /
  • 3 in 10 people do not wash their hands before meals!
Share:
  • Mummies, Beware! This Kitchen Item Is 100 Times Dirtier Than Your Toilet Seat

    Mummies, Beware! This Kitchen Item Is 100 Times Dirtier Than Your Toilet Seat

  • Celebrate Diwali with these amazing vastu tips

    Celebrate Diwali with these amazing vastu tips

  • Mummies, Beware! This Kitchen Item Is 100 Times Dirtier Than Your Toilet Seat

    Mummies, Beware! This Kitchen Item Is 100 Times Dirtier Than Your Toilet Seat

  • Celebrate Diwali with these amazing vastu tips

    Celebrate Diwali with these amazing vastu tips

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.