For many social media users, the smartphone often comes first. But experts say set it aside during winter meals.
This advice applies not just to the upcoming holidays but to any communal gatherings around food.
Why Are Scientists Sounding the Alarm?
Dr. Gareth Nye, a senior lecturer in physiology at the University of Chester in the UK, warns that phones can be breeding grounds for harmful microbes that make their way to the dining table.
The dangers mainly come from bacteria that can cause everything from food poisoning to skin infections. For people with weakened immune systems, the risks go beyond gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and vomiting, Dr. Nye noted. Those people could even develop sepsis or pneumonia.
What Bacteria Are We Talking About?
Healthcare workers, even when they are not in a clinical setting, can carry a variety of bacteria, the expert pointed out. The most common include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause serious respiratory or skin infections, and Acinetobacter baumannii, which can lead to meningitis.
For non-healthcare workers, the bacteria found on phones are mostly Gram-positive, spore-forming species. According to the researcher, these are linked to food poisoning and other gastrointestinal issues.
Dr. Nye says, “Dangerous bacteria like E. coli and fecal streptococci are found on nearly all surfaces of phones.”
What Can You Do?
First and foremost, Dr. Nye advised keeping your smartphone as far away from the dining table as possible. But if you can’t go without it, follow a few simple guidelines.
As trivial as it may sound, Dr. Nye explained that these bacteria typically end up on smartphones through our hands.
“Every day, our hands touch about 150 different objects, and if you commute to work, it’s even more,” he said. Each of those surfaces can introduce dangerous bacteria.
The next place our hands usually touch is the phone screen.
Bacteria transfer to our hands during restroom trips and then to our phones. So it’s no surprise they spread around the dining table.
Phones Need Washing Just Like Hands
Wash your hands regularly, and clean your smartphone.
Disconnect it from any power source.
Remove the phone case and rinse it with hot soapy water; let it dry completely. Use a specialized cleaning solution to avoid leaving residue, especially on genuine or faux leather cases.
Wipe the exterior of the phone with a lint-free cloth to remove dust and debris. Use a wooden toothpick to remove dust and dirt from the phone’s ports.
Wipe the phone’s exterior with a cloth dampened with 70% isopropyl alcohol or lightly moistened with hot soapy water. Avoid getting liquid into the ports.
Wash your hands regularly to prevent the spread of germs.
Dr. Gareth Nye asserts, “Thorough hand hygiene and daily disinfection of your phone should be sufficient to prevent most infections.”
