The CDC estimates that 48 million people in the U.S. suffer a foodborne illness annually (1 in 6 people). These microbes are more easily spread when food industry workers don’t use proper hand washing methods and then return to work with bacteria and germs on their hands.
The GMP Food Standards Code Australia advises that employees should clean their hands whenever they are likely to be a source of contamination of food. Hands should be cleaned immediately before handling food. They should also be cleaned immediately after smoking, coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief or tissue, going to the toilet, eating, drinking, using tobacco, or touching hair or skin(1).
Did you know?
- Paper towels are critical to proper hand hygiene, as they can remove up to 77% of the bacteria that remains on hands after washing(2)
- The World Health Organization and Mayo Clinic support using paper towels over jet air dryers(3)
- A recent observational study found that 90% of people using restrooms show a preference for paper towels when given a choice between single use paper towels and jet air dryers in the washroom(4)
Choose the right towel for your facility to help support your hand hygiene practices. Kimberly-Clark Professional offers a range of towels designed for use in high traffic areas and suitable for food zones.
The Scott® rolled hand towel dispenser dispenses 18% more sheets per roll loaded, thus helping to reduce refilling frequency.(5) The Scott® Hard Roll towels are endorsed by HACCP International as being suitable for use in food processing and food production areas and are made with AIRFLEX® technology, a process designed to use fewer towels and create less waste.
1 GMP Food Standard Code Australia, Standard 3.2.2 Food Safety Practices and General Requirements.
2 University of Westminster, “Changes in the number of different types of bacteria on the hands before and after drying using paper towel, continuous cloth roller towel, warm air dryer and jet air dryer” (2010)
3 World Health Organization, Global Hand Washing Guidelines
4 ETS Observational Study, ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam (May 2016)
5 Compared to Aquarius roll towel dispenser 69590”
