Cancer patients are very susceptible to infection, including foodborne illness. Their chemotreatments are very effective in killing cells, the good along with the bad. Their oncologist leads their fight with a delicate balance of chemical brew, blended on a case-by-case basis. The one thing all oncologists agree for all patients is that handwashing and continued […]
Norovirus Effective Hand Sanitizer Launched in Europe
Effectiveness data for a new breed of alcohol hand sanitizer was presented earlier this month to a group of foodservice and hospitality professionals in Europe. This information is not yet available in the USA but the patent-pending formulation appears to be 3 times more effective on norovirus compared to basic alcohol versions. Speculation suggests this […]
Champions Crowned at an Alternative March Madness
The Handwashing For Life® Olympics staged in Washington DC Held in conjunction with the 10th annual Food Safety & Security Summit, this year’s venue was visited by two former title holders, both multiple winners. From the left are Michele Samarya-Timm from the Franklin New Jersey Health Department and Kristen Machicek from Pappas Restaurants, better known […]
The Super Bowl of Handwashing
Restaurants Tackle Foodborne Illness Shamrock Foods and Handwashing For Life teamed up and took the field to find Phoenix’s finest professional handwashers. The venue was spectacular, state-of-the-art Cardinal Stadium, ready for the arrival of the Patriots and Giants. Crowds lined up at the hand sink, the super bowl of the day, a high-tech entry from […]
Hand Washing Gets Top Billing from CDC
Three Real Threats By Dr. Julie Gerberding Today’s headlines are packed with threats we never thought much about in earlier days — dangers involving food, infections and a possible influenza pandemic. How do we keep our concerns in check and at the same time take sensible steps to protect ourselves and our families? At the […]
Outbreak Revelation: Watch for the Unwashed Surface
Norovirus Outbreak Report, D.C. Elementary School — 2007 What I like about this report is that we gain outbreak data, a better understanding of contributing factors and…no one died. This executive summary for a norovirus outbreak provides some insights for both the critical nature of hand washing but also the importance of hand sanitizing and […]
Handwashing Comes of Age, the Information Age
Managing risk is largely based on information. For managing the risks of poor hand hygiene, the information advantage is just beginning. Good Handwashing is Management 101 is an article first published in the December 2007/January 2008 edition of Food Safety Magazine which conatains a 10 Point History of Poor Handwashing and as well as a […]
Operator Outbreak Protection: Specifying a Better Fence
How to stop the virus migration from the restrooms to the food. Virus escaping from the restroom is a daily threat to restaurant business continuity. Keeping pathogens in the restroom and off the menu – and the owners out of court – starts with the consultants who understand the threat and design for integrated best […]
Handwashing: Management Basics Win Again
Using the management skills we have to get the compliance we don’t have. Financial risks for those serving food increase sharply where hand hygiene is not a senior management priority. Neither training nor science creates sustainable gains in handwashing compliance. That takes a management reporting system. Start with a Team Risk Assessment Standards are needed […]
The 10 Point History of Poor Handwashing
Compelling lessons continue with little effect on handwashing compliance. A 10-Point History Lesson of Poor Handwashing Handwashing has been trivialized for centuries. There have been events in the course of history which should have changed handwashing behaviors but didn’t. This review is intended as a reflection on today’s hand hygiene behaviors in response to these […]