To help increase awareness about safe kitchen practices, Palmolive has partnered with Donald W. Schaffner, a Ph.D. and microbiologist. As an extension specialist in Food Science at Rutgers University in New Jersey, Schaffner knows a thing or two about germs. He has authored nearly 100 food microbiology studies, and was among the first to quantify how bacteria transfer during common kitchen tasks.
To demonstrate how easily cross-contamination can occur, Schaffner conducted a comprehensive review of his bacterial studies and those of leading universities and institutions worldwide that specialize in food safety research. His findings show just how quickly things can go downhill. For example, bacteria on a cutting board can double after 10 minutes of use, whether cutting raw meat or vegetables, and E. coli that remains on washed and dried dishes can survive up to three days, according to data.
Colgate-Palmolive Antibacterial dishwash. |
A recent study revealed that two-thirds of consumers failed to adequately wash hands after handling raw chicken, nearly 30% failed to wash or change the cutting board after cutting raw chicken and one-third failed to wash or change a knife used to cut raw chicken before cutting raw vegetables.
But Colgate says Ultra Palmolive Antibacterial Dish Liquid, which rolled out last Fall, has a recipe that can help consumers reduce risk when they don their chef’s hats.
“Products like Ultra Palmolive Antibacterial Dish Liquid can reduce risk,” said Dr. Schaffner.“The Palmolive product is the only dish liquid currently on the market approved to kill 99.9% of E. coli, salmonella and staph on dishes and non-porous surfaces in 30 seconds.Regular dish liquids clean, but are not proven to kill bacteria,” he said.
To kill bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli on dishes, consumers should remove excess food from dishware, then dilute one part Ultra Palmolive Antibacterial Dish Liquid to 20 parts water. Let the dishes to sit in the solution for 30 seconds then wash and rinse thoroughly.
“We know that consumers want to do everything they can to keep their kitchens clean and their families safe,” Dave Wilcox, vice president, product safety, regulatory and quality at Colgate-Palmolive, said in a press statement. “Using Ultra Palmolive Antibacterial Dish Liquid to clean knife blades, dishes and other hard, nonporous kitchen surfaces throughout your cooking prep and clean-up process is a simple step that can help put your cooks’ minds at ease.”
Another good idea, wash any dishes, utensils or other hard non-porous kitchen surfaces that may have touched raw eggs or meat before moving on to your next prep task.
“Certainly ‘washing as one goes’ is a good idea—better than waiting until the end and the kitchen is a mess,” said Schaffner.“Palmolive Antibacterial Dish Liquid can be a part of that plan.”
Palmolive dishwashing liquid was introduced in 1966, and today it is sold in more than 35 countries. SKUs include original, Aroma Sensations, Oxy Plus, pure + clear, Dry Skin with Aloe and Baby, a hypoallergenic formula that removes whole milk, formula and food residue.