Who Would Have Guessed?

Sometimes, too much information is not a good thing.  I just found out that some of the germiest places we come across in an average day are restaurant menus!  Who knew?  I was reading an article on-line from AARP (I am of a certain age, after all) about common places with the most germs.  Menus were number one.  But then as the article asked: have you ever seen anyone ever clean a menu?  And think of the number of people who handle menus.  I’m not a germaphobe, but I’ll be using hand sanitizer after ordering in the future.  [For the record, my spellcheck likes neither “germiest” nor “germaphobe"; screw it.]

And you’ll never guess what comes in second.  I couldn't have been more surprised--or disgusted:  lemon wedges.  Like in iced tea.  A recent study found that 70% of lemon wedges had germs on them,  including E. coli and other fecal bacteria.   Euuugh..........  “No lemon, please.”  [Another note: I had to look up how to spell “euuugh”; what is surprising is that I found it.  What is not surprising is that my spellcheck doesn’t like it.]

Third was condiment dispensers.  The same people who handle menus also handle condiment dispensers.  Is it considered bad form to wear rubber gloves while eating in a restaurant?

After that were restroom door handles.  Hardly surprising.  Come on guys, how many times have you seen men leave without washing their hands?  I always use a paper towel to open the door.  But then what does one do in restrooms with those infernal blow dryers?  Maybe I’ll just pee in the alley; I know my body is clean.

Then comes soap dispensers.  Makes sense: you use the soap dispenser before you wash your hands.   Charles Gerba, Ph.D., who directed a study of bacteria on soap dispensers, said, "[T]he bottoms are touched by dirty hands, so there's a continuous culture feeding millions of bacteria."  And think where those hands were just a few seconds before touching the dispenser?  I grow faint . . .

The list is rounded out with grocery store carts, airplane bathrooms, and doctor’s offices.  Doctor’s offices?  That is, after all, where sick people go.  I would guess hospitals are much the same. 

I think I’ll just shut myself up in my apartment, hand sanitizer at the ready, and never venture forth again.