Surface microbiology of the electronic menu in all-you-can-eat sushi restaurants in Toronto, Ontario

Abstract

The use of electronic menus within the food industry is rapidly expanding. Currently, the role of electronic menus as a vehicle for pathogens has not been explored within the restaurant setting. This preliminary study was conducted to assess the hygienic cleanliness of electronic menus and identify if their use in all-you-can-eat (AYCE) sushi restaurants may pose a public health hazard. Five AYCE sushi restaurants in Toronto, Ontario, with electronic menus were randomly selected and were visited twice by the researcher and a public health inspector. A total of 30 electronic menus were sampled using 3M hydrated sponges with buffered peptone water broth and tested for E. coli and total coliforms. All electronic menus tested negative for E. coli although four electronic menus showed presence of total coliforms. The findings from this study suggest the current use of tablets as electronic menus in AYCE sushi restaurants may be less threatening to the safety of the public than previously thought. However, it is important for restaurants to be aware of the potential for electronic menus to serve as a fomite, and proper sanitation procedures should be monitored and enforced to maintain cleanliness.