Is this another reason for not using self-checkouts?
A study has found supermarket self-service checkouts carry an alarming amount of disease-carrying bacteria.
According to Yahoo news, a study by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in the UK took swabs from 19 items that people touch every day – from doorknobs to keyboards. While the analysis found almost everything carried some sort of bacteria, by far the worst offender was supermarket self-service checkouts.
And we’re not just talking about any bacteria, but five different types of bacteria, including enterococcus, which is one commonly found in human faeces.
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E. coli was also found on almost every surface tested.
Health experts are urging shoppers to wash their hands thoroughly after using the checkouts and, if possible, to wipe them down with anti-bacterial wipes before using them.
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine scientist Dr Adam Roberts says the finding demonstrates how easy it is to pick up an infection.
“We live in a bacterial world – bacteria and microbes are everywhere, and we come into contact with them all day, every day,” he says.
“It’s vital to try to minimise their effects in terms of infection prevention and control, so when we touch our mouths or go to the toilet and don’t wash our hands, we’ve likely got bacteria from these places on our hands which can then transfer to other things – and subsequently to other people.”
Read: How to make savings a little more personal
This week’s best deals
IGA
Sensible: Energizer Max Plus AA or AAA batteries, 10-pack, half price $11.25. IGA knows where it’s at – don’t be caught without Christmas morning batteries with this special. Now if they can just add a pair of heavy-duty scissors that can get through zip tie packaging that I’m pretty sure is designed by space engineers I’ll be a happy camper.
Indulgence: The Country Chef pavlova base, $5.40. I adore how Christmas desserts are evolving away from pudding. I love pudding, but you have to boil it for hours and that requires a level of forward planning I’m usually not capable of after a belt-busting lunch and the equivalent in champagne. Pav bases require cream and then fruit. Perfect.
See the catalogue here.
Coles
Sensible: Schweppes mixers, half price, $3.50. Still the best value-for-money mixer. There are cheaper ones, but they don’t have the same fizz factor. And there are more expensive ones with fancier flavours, but they are … more expensive.
Indulgence: KB West Australian Lobster, $24 each, save $3. One good thing about the market for Australian seafood collapsing in China is we now get specials like this. Snap it up before the trade diplomats make friends again. Run, don’t walk, these almost always sell out.
See the catalogue here.
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Woolworths
Sensible: Pauls Brandy Custard, 1kg, $5.50 each. I’m one of those freaks who likes to make everything from scratch. But occasionally I come across a product I can never hope to match and brandy custard is one of those. Great for Christmas pudding or just pour over some chopped bananas for a quick and easy snack.
Indulgence: Boneless Turducken with fig and pistachio stuffing, $28. I think turducken might be the silliest idea going around, and combined with that ridiculous name, it needs to be on your Christmas table for the laugh factor alone.
See the catalogue here.
Aldi
Sensible: A range of more ‘out there’ kitchen appliances. Probably more of your fringe items for the dedicated cooks. This week’s offerings include a food dehydrator, electric food slicer, cordless mini chopper, mini hand mixer and electric knife sharpener. More traditional offerings include an air fryer and blender. Prices start at $19.99, so maybe a good present for the cook in your life who wants to take it to the next level.
Indulgence: Scallop and Champagne Gratin, two-pack, $9.99. This product has a cult following in online Aldi groups. Get it quick before it sells out.
See the catalogue here.
Do you wash your hands when you come home from shopping? Will you start now? Why not share your thoughts in the comments section below?
Well where I am in Brighton Vic I vehemently disagree! We disinfect every register in between, unless super busy queue, we are scrupulously clean!
Lynda, I appreciate your efforts (though I will never be shopping in your shop), but there are billions of bacteria on any surface and if your disinfection actions kill millions, there’s still a lot waiting.
Though as you say “unless super busy”, that’s all it takes.
Having a diverse population of bacteria and friends is a healthy sign. Everyone has them and everyone shares them. (For scary. scary, it is worth reading the story of the personal bacteria populations taken on the Apollo 11 astronauts before and after their trip to the moon. Cross exchange and sharing to a level that you don’t want to know.)
Soap and water remains the healthiest method of protecting your self from unwanted and undesirable infections.
Glad to hear it Lynda, I regularly shop in Brighton supermarkets, I’m happy you are looking after us.