Tag: germs

The Three Germiest Spots in Airports and on Planes

Everyone worries about getting sick from that stale, recirculated air on planes.  But what you really have to worry about is the stuff you touch. 

A study looked at how many bacteria and fungal cells there were on different surfaces.  

Here are the top three things to worry about on the plane:

1.  The “flush” button in the airplane bathroom.  On average, they have about 95,000 CFUs per square inch.  That stands for “colony-forming units.”  95,000 is almost five times as much bacteria as you’ll find in the average kitchen sink.

2.  Your tray table, just under 12,000 CFUs.

3.  Your seat belt.  Specifically the buckle.  Just over 1,000 CFUs.

But the thing you really need to worry isn’t on the plane. 

It’s one of the first things you touch at the airport.  Here are three things to worry about before you board:

1.  The self check-in kiosks.  The screens had an average of 254,000 CFUs.  So almost three times as many as the “flush” button.  And one they tested had over a million.

2.  The armrests on the chairs at your gate, 22,000 CFUs.  That’s slightly higher than what you’d find in a kitchen sink.

3.  The button on water fountains, 19,000 CFUs.

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that the easiest way to limit your exposure to germs is to wash your hands frequently… avoid touching your face… and wear a mask if you’re sick to avoid spreading it to others. And there’s always the option of wearing a mask yourself, if you don’t trust your fellow Americans to keep their germs to themselves.

Caramel Apples Might Be Delicious, But They Could Be Deadly

If you’ve been proudly DIYing caramel apples every Halloween, here’s something that might ruin your sweet tradition forever (or at least give you a serious reason to eat them all in one sitting)…

Caramel apples can become deadly if you don’t eat them fast enough. Like, actual deadly.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin once traced a Listeria outbreak that killed seven people back to – brace yourself – caramel apples. That’s right. Not raw chicken. Not week-old potato salad. Caramel-covered fruit-on-a-stick.

So, what’s the deal? The problem starts when you dip the apple in hot caramel. You might think the heat would zap any bacteria, but nope. Instead, the caramel creates a cozy, sticky blanket that traps bacteria in place and gives it a perfect little incubator to multiply. Toss it in the fridge afterward, and you’ve basically set up a slow-cooker for germs.

Things get even worse if you let them sit for a while. The wooden stick you jam into the apple can give bacteria a little entry point and a place to thrive. It’s like a bacteria Airbnb—fully insulated, great location, long-term rental.

Thankfully, the fix isn’t that complicated. Scientists say if you really wash your apples thoroughly before dipping, and eat them within a few days, you’ll probably be fine. Key word: probably. The danger zone sets in if they hang out in your fridge for weeks. So unless you’re planning to eat them fresh, maybe skip them altogether.

If that sounds too risky for your snack plan, there are a million other ways to mainline sugar this spooky season. Try gummy worms, a mountain of candy corn, or just drink a milkshake like a normal Halloween adult.

Because no one wants their obituary to say “taken out by caramel.” Not when there are still so many other desserts to live for.

Hopefully they eat these apples in a timely fashion
Exit mobile version