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(NBC News) – The best way to avoid cross-contamination of bacteria in the kitchen is to wash your hands, but a new study from the United States Department of Agriculture found that home cooks rarely or not at all.
"Surprisingly, consumers do not wash their hands before handling food and this seems like the simplest thing you can do," said Carmen Rottenberg of the USDA.
USDA researchers filmed people to see if they were cooking meat well, with participants knowing that they were being watched.
Participants were unable to wash their hands 97% of the time they should be and almost half contaminated spice containers after handling raw meat.
"You can not see the pathogens, you can not see bacteria on your hands, and you have to remember, even if they do not look dirty, they might very well have dangerous bacteria," he said. Rottenberg.
Salmonella, which can hide on raw meat and eggs, can live on surfaces up to 32 hours.
Experts say that good hand washing means scrubbing your hands with soap for 20 seconds, then drying with a clean paper towel.
Read more: http://bit.ly/2Ize9yB
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