We’ve all heard of the three second rule when it comes to dropping food on the floor but how many of you would admit to eating food that has fallen on the floor?
Research has suggested that up to a third of people risk their health by doing just that and not just at home but in the food services industry too!
Bacteria however sticks to food meaning ultimately that along with the food we eat after dropping it, we ingest bugs such as salmonella. A 2019 study showed that even 8 hours after bacteria is exposed to the floor, it will still only take 5 seconds for it to contaminate dropped food and the longer the food is left on the floor, the higher the risk.
Add to that COVID-19 airborne germs which can also eventually make their way onto our floors and live on the surface for up to 3 days, it is more important than ever to put our health first disposing of any dropped food but also making sure our floors are cleaned often.
There is some question around best practice for cleaning floors. At home the majority of us would use a mop but germs can live on this too so be sure to use one with disposable mop heads or thoroughly clean and disinfect the mop before each use. Running a restaurant or food service outlet then a mop is not the answer, look to having a reputable cleaning company pressure clean your floors with a machine that uses fresh water or a scrubber/dryer or carry out anti-viral fogging on a frequent basis.
Carpets, rugs and upholstery should be regularly cleaned too.
USS has experience of working within the hospitality sector, providing services to bars, restaurants and hotels and have floor and carpet specialists on hand to answer your questions and tailor a cleaning regime to ensure you are looking after the health of both your staff and your customers.
Want to find out more, call 02086694377 and we will be happy to help.
