How food safe is your home kitchen? A self-directed home kitchen audit.

摘要

Food mishandling in home kitchens likely causes a significant amount of foodborne disease.1-6 One of the few studies that evaluated the sanitation practices in home kitchens reported that 99% of the households failed an inspection of their kitchen—despite knowing in advance that someone would be visiting their home to observe and evaluate their kitchen!7 Many of the participants in that study committed major food safety violations related to temperature control of refrigerators and had insufficient food thermometer access. A similar inspection of the kitchens in nondormitory dwellings inhabited by college students found that overall, the kitchens appeared to be clean to sight and touch.4 However, numerous potential problems were observed. For example, refrigerator temperatures were higher than is generally considered safe (ie, 40F), few kitchens had a food thermometer available, and kitchen appliances were dirty.