Revealed: The Dirtiest Parts of a Supermarket

Fruit and Vegetables

How many times have you given an avocado a squeeze then moved on to select another? Ready to eat fruits such as apples and stone fruits could have been touched by dozens of people before you select it and take a bite.

Dents and bruising in fruit can also provide an entry point for pathogens.

Raw Meat Packaging

Ever picked up a packet of meat only to have it leak over you and the other packages?
A UK survey found 40 per cent of chicken packs in supermarkets showed bacteria on the outsides of the packaging.

Eftpos Machines

Bad news for the majority of us who pay for groceries with a card that requires touching a pin pad: A study by microbiologist Richard Hastings claimed through a swabbing experiment that pin pads were dirtier than public toilets.

The Conveyor Belt

A study by the International Association of Food Protection showed that yeast, mould, staph, and coliform live and grow on the belts, and a study by Michigan State University found bacteria on 100 per cent of belts tested.

The Check-out Counter

There are a several things that each customer puts in contact with the check-out counter: money, hands, the base of a handbag. Multiplied by hundreds of customers throughout the day means a popular spot for bacteria.