shopping carts handles most bacteria-infected

[almaty 19]

SEOUL (Reuters) - Shopping cart handles are the most bacteria-infested items among some commonly used objects while doorknobs on public bathrooms are not as bad as might be expected, according to a survey conducted in South Korea.

The Korea Consumer Protection Board tested six items that are commonly handled by the public and ran tests for their bacteria content.

Shopping cart handles led the way with 1,100 colony forming units of bacteria per 10 sq cm (1.55 sq inches) followed by a mouse used on computers in Internet cafes, which had an average of 690 colony forming units.

"The reason that shopping cart handles had so much bacteria is because the area is larger than the others and people have more space to place their hands," Kwon Young-il, an official at the consumer body, said by telephone.

Hand straps on buses were next with 380 units, followed by bathroom doorknobs at 340.

Rounding out the list were elevator buttons at 130 colony forming units and hand straps on subways at 86.

The report released this week said washing hands with soap removes almost all of the bacteria

[Fandango 1,439]

That is so nasty it's not even funny!

See, tellin somethin like this to someone like me (a touch germophobic) is gonna make me crazy! I already carry hand sanitizer in my purse, but I try not to overuse it cos people say if you don't allow some bacteria, you'll get weak as hell & have no resistance to anything.

Still, this grosses me out to no end!!!

[Mirorgate 0]

Neighborhood grocery stores have a bottle of handy wipes available so you can wipe down the handle on the cart. Good idea. I still don't eat the mints at restaurants though...

[Sister Fracas 5]

Neighborhood grocery stores have a bottle of handy wipes available so you can wipe down the handle on the cart. Good idea. I still don't eat the mints at restaurants though...

along with the nuts/pretzels at bars

[Lilith** 0]

PPL............embrace the germs........the more we let them in the more we build resistance......our world is becoming way too sanitized......

[Sister Fracas 5]

PPL............embrace the germs........the more we let them in the more we build resistance......our world is becoming way too sanitized......

I agree with the too sanitized part...a reason I don't use anti-bacterial soap of any kind, (good old fashioned hot water and regular soap does the trick)....BUT...I still ain't dipping my hand in a bowl of food that loads of peeps before me have....peeps who don't wash their hands after using the loo...

[Tiksman 0]

along with the nuts/pretzels at bars

Yes stay away from the bar nuts

[almaty 19]

PPL............embrace the germs........the more we let them in the more we build resistance......our world is becoming way too sanitized......

i agree also, i never take medication or antibodics....hardly sick

[Peter Miami 0]

[Lilith** 0]

PPL............embrace the germs........the more we let them in the more we build resistance......our world is becoming way too sanitized......

i agree also, i never take medication or antibodics....hardly sick

I agree.........I have a child who has had antibiotics once.....and he is 10....hardly sick at all....I am passionate about the overuse of antibiotics in our world......

as for nuts on bars........ even I don't do that..

Edited February 14, 2006 by Lilith**

[almaty 19]

PPL............embrace the germs........the more we let them in the more we build resistance......our world is becoming way too sanitized......

i agree also, i never take medication or antibodics....hardly sick

I agree.........I have a child who has had antibiotics once.....and he is 10....hardly sick at all....I am passionate about the overuse of antibiotics in our world......

as for nuts on bars........ even I don't do that..

me either...

[Kajikit 65]

That's why supermarkets almost always have a dispenser of disinfectant wipes near the shopping carts... I've never bothered to use them, but I can see why someone with a weak immune system would need to! After all, you're handling your week's supply of food with those hands... I'm germophobic but not THAT phobic - I'm just freaked out by sick people.

[Neja 0]

It's funny that I came across this thread. It reminds me of a couple months ago I was standing in line at the supermarket checkout and there was a boy in front of me, probably about 8 or 10 years old, and he was picking his nose and wiping the boogars on the handle of the shopping cart. He did this not just once, but a few times over and over. I was so grossed out!! Makes me never want to use a shopping cart ever again! Before seeing that I never thought twice about touching a cart handle...I'm not much of a germphobe but seeing that was just gross. And the next person to touch the cart handle would have no idea!! *shudders*

[kc456 0]

Thanks A LOT for posting this! (NOT)

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

funny kid!!

did he eat any by chance?

Daniel

:energetic: