Survey Reveals Health Risks From Dirty Fridges

Issued 25^th April 2002

A Teagasc survey has found that almost 10% of Irish domestic fridges contain E.coli bacteria, indicating a worrying level of faecal contamination.

The survey team, led by Dr. Declan Bolton and involving scientists, Jean Kennedy and Aisling Meally at the Teagasc National Food Centre, has also discovered an alarmingly high incidence of other pathogenic bacteria. For example, up to 40% of fridges contained Salmonella and Listeria and Staphylococcus was present in over 80% of fridges.

Salmonellosis is a relatively mild disease which includes nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, fever and headache and usually clears up within a few days depending on the host. Listeria, on the other hand, is a more deadly pathogen and the manifestations of listeriosis include septicemia, meningitis, encephalitis and intrauterine or cervical infections in pregnant women, which may result in spontaneous abortion or stillbirth. Mortality rates are up to 70% in susceptible populations. Staphylococcal food poisoning is caused by poisons called enterotoxins produced by these bacteria which cause a variety of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and headache.

In addition to assessing contamination levels in fridges, the Teagasc survey team is visiting 1000 households throughout the island of Ireland with a questionnaire containing 25 questions on food purchase, storage, handling and preparation practices. The initial findings suggest that most Irish consumers have a poor knowledge of safe food practices.

Only 13% of Irish males and 25% of females know the correct temperature required for refrigeration. On the question of meat storage, three out of four males and two out of three females store raw meat in a manner which would facilitate food poisoning through cross-contamination of other food products in the fridge, many of which may be eaten without cooking.

The survey results also show that 50% of consumers are unaware of correct meat defrosting practices. According to Declan Bolton, the most surprising finding was that 98% of Irish women are unaware of Listeria and the potential consequences of infection during pregnancy.

"With 25% of respondents claiming they or a member of their family had suffered food poisoning in the previous 12 months, it would appear that an effective food safety education campaign is urgently required if needless suffering is to be avoided and the lives of the more susceptible members of our society are to be protected," said Declan Bolton

Dr Bolton stresses that following a few simple procedures can prevent contamination in the fridge and protect against abdominal cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting illnesses. He lists the following seven point strategy:

1. Keep the fridge clean - wash with warm soapy water or warm water containing baking soda at least once a week
2. Store raw meat alone on the bottom shelf or in the drawer at the bottom of the fridge
3. Put chilled foods into the fridge as soon as you come home from shopping
4. Discard old food
5. Don't overstuff the fridge
6. Always store leftovers in the fridge but let the steam evaporate first and cover
7. Defrost foods completely, either slowly in the fridge or quickly using a microwave and cook immediately

More information on the prevention of food poisoning in the home may be obtained from the Food Safety Promotion Board at 1850 40 4567 (Republic of Ireland) and 1800 085 1683 (Northern Ireland).