An Ideal Environment for Bacterial Growth
But No Major Threat to Health
Kitchen Hygiene Requires More Than Just Sponge Care
A study revealing that up to 54 billion bacteria were found on kitchen sponges used daily for washing dishes is gaining renewed attention.
On the 21st (local time), the British BBC cited research by Dr. Markus Egert, a microbiologist at the University of Port Wangen in Germany in 2017, stating that "kitchen sponges are a paradise for bacteria." At that time, Dr. Egert discovered 362 species of microorganisms on kitchen sponges and confirmed that some contained up to 54 billion bacteria per 1㎠. This number is reported to be similar to the amount of bacteria found in human fecal samples.
In fact, sponges are exposed to warm and humid environments, and food residues remain in the tiny holes and gaps, creating optimal conditions for microorganisms to thrive. A 2022 study by the research team led by Lingchong You at Duke University also revealed that sponges with holes of various sizes promote bacterial growth.
However, bacteria themselves cannot be viewed solely as harmful to health. Bacteria exist on almost every part of the human body, including the skin. Therefore, it is important not to focus on how many bacteria are found on sponges but to determine whether the bacteria found on sponges actually pose a health risk. Some bacteria found on sponges may cause infections in people with weakened immune systems, but fortunately, they were not at a level that poses a significant threat to healthy individuals. Dr. Egert explained, "We only found bacteria with potential pathogenicity. In other words, these were bacteria harmful to elderly people or children with weakened immune systems," adding, "For most healthy people, the bacteria inside kitchen sponges are not harmful."
Additionally, none of the bacteria found were associated with food poisoning or serious diseases. Ninety percent of hospitalizations due to food poisoning are caused by five types of pathogens, three of which are Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. These bacteria were not present on the sponges. In 2017, a research team led by Professor Jennifer Quinlan from the Department of Food Safety at Prairie View A&M University in the United States collected kitchen sponges from 100 households in Philadelphia and found that only 1-2% contained bacteria capable of causing food poisoning.
Experts emphasized that maintaining kitchen cleanliness requires not only managing sponges but also overall kitchen hygiene. They explained that disinfecting sponges by boiling them or microwaving after use is effective, and it is advisable to replace them every 1-2 weeks. It is also recommended to separate sponges used for dishwashing from those used for raw meat, and to store them in a dry place after removing as much moisture as possible.
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