A study in Ireland has highlighted potential risks associated with using smart devices in the kitchen while cooking. The research examined hygiene habits when using a smartphone or tablet in the domestic kitchen. One in three participants didn’t wash their hands after touching raw chicken and before touching a smart device.
Three-quarters didn’t wash their hands after handling raw eggs and before handling their smart device. The study was conducted by Queen’s University Belfast and involved 51 participants who were observed while cooking a meal, including raw poultry and raw eggs, using smart devices. Findings from cooking activity People were asked to prepare a meal of chicken goujons and a side salad while following a recipe provided by researchers on a tablet device.
The recipe was available as a video or in written form. Only a fifth of participants cleaned their tablets during the activity, and on all occasions, an unclean cloth or a sleeve was used. Participants had their hands and personal devices swabbed to analyze for bacteria.
During a 30-minute cooking activity, they touched their smart device on average almost six times. After cooking, around 6 percent of pre-cleaned devices were contaminated with potential food-poisoning bacteria. Observations showed that participants’ food safety behaviors fluctuated , and poor hygiene practices were frequent during meal preparation.
Frequency with which people touched the tablet during meal preparation ranged from one t.
