Your Own Kitchen Probably Wouldn't Pass Health Inspection

Times reporter Henry Alford got the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to send an inspector to his kitchen. (Your tax dollars at work, saving journalism!) After a thorough review, inspector Beth Torin told Alford his kitchen's so unsanitary she wouldn't eat in it. And this after he spent a day cleaning it! Violations included Alford's washing his hands in the kitchen sink, a too-warm refrigerator, and a broken meat thermometer. But the biggest transgression was his cat, which "can blithely go from litter box to tabletop or kitchen counter, transporting bacteria." In the end, Torin has a heart and says, "I'll give you the cat if you swear you’ll wash your hands in the bathroom. Then I’d come over. You’ve got to eat somewhere."

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By John Del Signore in Food on September 29, 2010 2:13 PM

Comments [rss]

BotanistPrime

I think a lot of people need to chill out worry about germs...

That said, its pretty gross to let your cat onto your countertops and tables with the litter box pawing. Also its harder for the cat to knock stuff off said surfaces if he's not allowed up there in the first place.

Elizabeth

For those of you who clearly did not read the article: The inspector said you shouldn't wash your hands coming in directly from the street in your kitchen sink. You don't want street germs in your kitchen sink where you subsequently will wash vegetables. While you're cooking? Of course you wash your hands in the kitchen.

Nyctini11

So wait, you can't use your kitchen sink to wash your hands? That's like saying it's unsanitary for me to do the dishes, where my hands essentially get washed in the process.

Politburo

If you check out this thread, several people say that they were taught this, but no one seems to have a good reason why.

http://ask.metafilter.com/163622/Hand-washing-in-the-kitchen-sink

Nyctini11

Yeah doesn't make sense to, then again, i am one of those people who regularly wipe down all surfaces, even whilst preparing a meal, the counters & faucets and sink basin are wiped down regularly, often because i am preparing chicken and want to avoid any health risks between raw meat and myself and i'm a neat freak when it comes to the kitchen. Going to the bathroom with potential germs dripping through the apartment, then touching the sink handles of the same sink i will use to wash my face & brush my teeth certainly raises more of a red flag then using the sink that is regularly cleaned downed on a daily basis.

jibbly

“You’re not allowed to wash your hands in the kitchen sink. I coughed when I came in the door. Who knows where my hands have been?” Wherever they’d been, the germs they carried with them were now in the same sink I use to rinse lettuce.

The only reason i can think of is because you turned on the faucet with your dirty hand.