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Granite is Bacteria Resistant
A 1999 study by the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management found granite to rate highest of six (6) different kitchen countertop materials for the reduction of bacteria with simple cleansing with soapy dishwater and subsequent rinsing with clean water. The pertinent info is excerpted here for your convenience..... THE REDUCTION OF E. COLI ON VARIOUS COUNTERTOP SURFACES Introduction 1. Laminate These materials are commonly used in home kitchen countertop construction. Today, it is understood that many food items that we purchase are highly contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms, and it is necessary for the home cook to make these foods safe. Often, the first step in food preparation is cutting and manipulating the food to get it ready. It is essential that the countertop be cleaned after raw food has touched the surface. Otherwise, there can be cross-contamination, and the people eating the food prepared on the cross-contaminated surface can become ill. This study identifies the clean-ability of these six different countertop materials. ... Results The results of the experiment are shown in Table 1 as logarithms of counts per 81 square inches of surface. In the column, "Real number," the logarithms of the average are converted to real numbers. In each experiment, the first column presents the log mean count of the organisms recovered. The second column under each experiment shows the log reduction in bacteria due to the wash-and rinse process or due to the vinegar application. The results are also shown in Figure 1. The retention of the E. coli was from most retained to most removed as follows: 1. Laminate ... Using cleaning techniques typically practiced by most homeowners, granite showed the greatest reduction in bacteria. Click Here to { Download PDF of Entire Study } |