Do you wash your hands before preparing food?

[Darkdiamond]

My mum was a nurse and it was drummed into us to always wash our hands before preparing food, even if it was just a piece of toast. Now I do it every time I go to prepare food without thinking.

However through the years, being in other people's homes and living with flatmates, I noticed that I'm very much in the minority. I even saw a friend change a nappy, clean her hands with a wipe and then put the kettle on the make me a cup of tea. I declined!

I did read on mumsmet previously that lots of people don't wash their hands after changing a dirty nappy (and don't see the point). I mean, that really shocked me, so I'm expecting to hear that lots of people don't clean their hands before preparing food.

So, what about you? What's your policy when it comes to preparing food and hand washing? And what's it based on?

Yes. Always.

I don't want to depress you but I would estimate that around 30% of the people who use the loos at our work don't wash their hands after the loo either. (It's hospitality, so it's the general public- staff have different toilets)

I work in an old building and the water pipe makes a very particular sound when the taps are turned on. (My office has the pipes running through it) It's not uncommon for people to use the toilet and then walk straight out. I know the tap hasn't been turned on, so therefore, they haven't washed their hands.

Not always, might not remember. But plenty of times during. I've just started prepping a lasagne. Don't think I washed them right before starting but did after chopping the onion and garlic, again after chopping carrot and then they got soapy again when I washed up the measuring jug and tins of tomatoes so I think that's fine.

Fair enough for you to take that risk for yourself.

But no acceptable to inflict that risk on other people if you ever prepare food/drinks for others, some of whom may be at high risk if they caught something from you and your lack of hygiene.

There's a reason that commercial food preparation needs procedures, food handling training etc.

I have an issue with hygiene in public toilets. There are places I can't bring myself to wash because I'm pretty sure I'll be dirtier after than I was before.

I'm a great fan of being able to exit without touching any handles, and you'll see me using elbows and sleeves in an attempt to do so.

I loathe bannisters and buttons and sometimes need to wash after those.

So I suppose I'm lax at home where there are no bugs except ours, and fussy outside the house where it's a dark and dangerous, bacteria filled maze!

Always, and several times during after touching raw meat etc. I'm not a clean freak by any stretch of the imagination but it's very basic hygiene.

Yes, always it's basic hygiene.

Always.
It was drummed into me as a child and later in Home Ec in school.
My mum gets stabby when she watches cooking programmes where the hosts never, ever wash their hands - no hand washing to begin, then handle meat, followed by pots, utensils, knobs on stove, counters, bowls...

I have to say that I noticed Jamie Oliver is quite good for washing hands after prepping raw meat.

Yes, every time, with soap.
The amount of people who think just splashing their hands under water for two seconds or just rubbing soap into their finger tips and nowhere else counts as washing your hands is sickening 🤢

I do most of the time, but I have never got sick or made anyone in my family sick or got sick from eating at anyone else’s house, which includes third world countries. Restaurants are a different kettle of fish because of food storage. I’ve stopped worrying about a lot of this stuff, I don’t think things need to be a scrupulously clean as we’ve been told

Always always always. And I'm quite relaxed about a lot of things (shoes in house, food past sell-by date etc).

Daughter of a nurse and it’s the same here.

I always do. No medical background and neither of my parents have a medical background but it was always something we were taught to do. I always wash my hands before preparing food, using the toilet, after the gym, using public transport etc. Just basic hygiene to be honest. I'm never sick either.

Yes of course. Its basics

I think most people's immunity can survive a certain level of bacteria but I see it as just doing a civic duty and trying my best not to make anyone sick. I think knowing that you are supposed to wash you hands and deciding that you won't is a different thing entirely. Nobody wants to (or should) live in a sterile bubble, but I do think it's good to start food prep with as little bacteria as you can (without going to unnecessary extremes).

I'm an environmental health professional so yes, always.

Yes and we always, always wash our hands as soon as we come inside from being outside. My kids just go straight into the bathroom to wash their hands as soon as they get in, without thinking.

Always.. wouldn't occur to me not to.

Very interesting. Can you provide any kind of insider info (or public info, for that matter!) that you don't think people realise? How much does washing hands cut down on sickness, and what kinds of sickness does it reduce?

Yes of course, it's basic hygiene. It's pretty grim if people don't wash their hands after using the toilet or touching raw meat. I'm by no means a clean freak.

Also after using public transport. I've seen people scratch inside their bum crack and then hold onto a pole. 🤢

I always wash my hand before touching food. I thought everyone did.

No, as i am always washing my hands after nappy change , washing dishes, washing fruit with acv , cleaning with disinfectants and 99% wipes, that washing yet again to prep food.. would be too much.

Toast? No I probably wouldn't.

Serious cooking/food prep or for other people? Yes, I would.

But I tend to wash my hands after things. So, after coming in, after the toilet (obs) after handling the dog etc. Plus randomly when I just feel like it. I must wash them about a dozen or more times a day.

I also like a hot bowl of washing up water and constantly and constantly am dipping into that.

I always hold the pole with my elbow and scrub my hands as soon as I get off anyway, precisely because I've seen people sneeze into their hands then grab the pole. People are disgusting.