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These are the top 7 dirtiest areas of your local supermarket

Dec 17, 2015

We know the world is full of germs but there’s one place we go all the time that might not register in our minds as a place to worry about bacteria: the supermarket.

Supermarkets look very clean – everything is packaged up and organised, however there are a lot of germ hotspots around the store that you may not have realised, or wanted to admit.

The fact of the matter is that hundreds of people every day are in those same aisles! So, what should we be aware of when we next to grocery shop?

Here are the top five germ spots:

1. The conveyor belt

Do you leave your fruit and veg outside the plastic slips? The conveyor could be a breeding ground for germs.

A study by the International Association of Food Protection showed that yeast, mould, staph, and coliform live and grow on the belts, and a study by Michigan State University found bacteria on 100 per cent of belts tested.

After using the conveyor belt, be sure to sanitise your hands and also any fruit or veg that were placed directly on it.

2. Eftpos machines

Most of us are guilty of doing this: we pay for our groceries and use the Eftpos machine, then 20 minutes later we’ll touch our face or bite our nails.

A study by microbiologist Richard Hastings claimed through a swabbing experiment that pin pads were dirtier than public toilets.

3. Fruit and vegetables

Again, think twice before eat those fruit and veges – many people will touch multiple items before they find the perfect one.

4. The trolley

This is a bit of an obvious one but many shoppers don’t wipe down the trolley before holding on. Some supermarkets now have wipes when you enter so you can do this. They are often the dirtiest parts of the whole supermarket experience.

5. Raw meat packaging

Ever picked up a packet of meat only to have it leak over you and the other packages? A UK survey found 40 per cent of chicken packs in supermarkets showed bacteria on the outsides of the packaging. Remember to give them a wipe and wash your hands after touching.