Prevalence of O157 on the hands of food-workers

Authors: Kerr, K.G.; Seale, K.; Walbran, S.; Rajgopal, A.; Bentham, D.

Source: British Food Journal, Volume 105, Number 10, 2003 , pp. 678-681(4)

Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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Abstract:

A total of 94 food handlers working at 25 premises in the city of Bradford were examined to determine the prevalence of carriage of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on their hands. A total of 50 clerical workers who did not handle food on a professional basis were recruited as controls. All subjects made palmar impressions on 225mm2 plates containing modified cefixime-tellurite sorbitol MacConkey agar. In contrast with earlier studies, which examined only abattoir workers, none of the food-handlers or controls in this investigation carried the bacterium on their hands.

Keywords: Contamination; Food safety; United Kingdom

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00070700310506227

Publication date: 2003-11-01