Secrets of Your Supermarket Food: Expert on hidden bacteria
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It is easy to grow despondent when looking at the catastrophic effects of climate change, which are becoming more frequent and severe every year. One small but significant contribution you can make is to switch to a reusable water bottle. Reducing the amount of plastic building up in landfills and the ocean is critical to stabilising the climate.
Despite the clear advantages of opting for a reusable water bottle, they can present hidden health risks depending on how you use them.
“Reusing water bottles multiple times before washing them is a common bad habit,” warned Abbas Kanani, pharmacist at Chemist Click.
As Mr Kanani reported, studies that have swabbed reusable water bottles have found more than 300,000 colony forming units per square cm on reusable water bottles.
A colony forming unit, or CFU, is a unit commonly used to estimate the concentration of bacteria in a test sample.
“To put it into perspective, a toilet seat contains less bacteria than an unwashed water bottle,” warned Mr Kanani.
“If you choose to use a reusable water bottle, ensure to wash it every day, to reduce the build up of bacteria.”
How prevalent is the problem?
A study from Brazil suggests reusable water bottles are often riddled with bacteria.
In the study, researchers asked 30 gym members to hand over their shaker bottles for testing, and compared the results to that of 30, unused (contaminant-free) ones.
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They discovered bacteria contamination in 83 percent of the used plastic bottles.
Most prevalent were Staphylococcus aureus (found in 27 percent of the bottles) and E. coli (found in 17 percent).
Staphylococcus aureus is the most dangerous of all of the many common staphylococcal bacteria.
According to the NHS, staph bacteria can also cause more serious infections, such as blood poisoning and toxic shock syndrome.
E. coli bacteria normally live in the intestines of healthy people and animals.
Most types of E. coli are harmless or cause relatively brief diarrhoea.
“But a few strains, such as E. coli O157:H7, can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhoea and vomiting,” warns the Mayo Clinic.
According to the health body, signs and symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infection usually begin three or four days after exposure to the bacteria.
Other ways to prevent a bacterial infection
“The first line of defence is to keep germs at bay by following good personal hygiene habits,” explains Harvard Health.
According to the health body, you can prevent infection before it begins and avoid spreading it to others with easy measures.
“Wash your hands after using the bathroom, before preparing or eating food, and after gardening or other dirty tasks,” it advises.
Other key tips include:
- Cover a cough. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, then dispose of it. If no tissue is handy, cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than into your hands
- Wash and bandage all cuts. Any serious cut or animal or human bite should be examined by a doctor
- Do not pick at healing wounds or blemishes, or squeeze pimples
- Don’t share dishes, glasses, or eating utensils
- Avoid direct contact with napkins, tissues, handkerchiefs, or similar items used by others.
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