"Assessing the Knowledge on Microbiological Quality of Kitchens Sponges Used among the Home Maker in the Households"

Abstract

Background: Domestic environment, in particular, kitchen setting is a well-established source of microbial contamination. Kitchen sponges represent an important vehicle of microbial transmission and maintenance of spoilage bacteria and pathogenic strains responsible for food borne diseases. Many studies reported that women in household adopt of poor practices in kitchen regarding food hygiene, handling of kitchen cleaning equipments and food safety. Aim: The aim of this current study was to evaluate the household knowledge, practice and attitude on usage of kitchen sponges‟ and microbial contamination. Methods & Material: A total of 100 volunteers were participated and collected the data through unstructured questionnaire about „in-use‟ kitchen sponges, improving the knowledge on their role in cross-contamination in domestic environment. Results: 36% of them share washing sponges with another member, 6% of them use the sponge more than 2 months, 52% of them said not received any sun ray on sponges and 48% of them not use separate sponges for cleaning oily and non- oily utensils. Results confirm the potential role of kitchen sponges as vehicle for food-borne pathogens. Conclusion: It is observed that high the necessity to improve a proper education of the consumers on the effective treatment to reduce their microbial loads.