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Published October 22, 2024
Doctor Reveals the ‘Biggest Bacteria Spreader’ in Your Kitchen—and the Internet Is Not Happy About It By Realtor.com
Adoctor has sparked a bitter online debate after issuing a warning about the item he believes to be the “biggest bacteria spreader in your kitchen,” prompting outcry from critics who accused him of spreading “false information.”
Dr. Daniel Pompa, from Park City, UT, found himself at the center of a furious backlash when he urged his TikTok followers to stop using a very common kitchen item, claiming that it is responsible for spreading bacteria that causes “sickness” and “gut problems.”
The item in question? A simple kitchen sponge.
According to Dr. Pompa, traditional sponges are “bacterial spreaders” because of their “nooks and crannies,” which protect the bacteria and enable it to thrive.
“Every one of you are doing it,” he says in the clip. “It leads to sickness and gut problems. It’s a big one, it’s not a small one.”
(TikTok/Dr. Pompa)
Picking up a sponge, he goes on: “Every time you pick up a glass and [wipe it with a sponge], you’re spreading bacteria. And the older [sponges] get, the worse they become. Look, if you changed them out every two days, it would be a different story. But that’s not what we do, is it?”
As for trying to sterilize your sponge in the dishwasher, Dr. Pompa says that’s a lost cause, because the holes in the sponge can never fully be cleaned.
“If you put it in the dishwasher, studies show it doesn’t even work because [the bacteria] gets protected in this little nooks and crannies,” he adds.
So what, exactly, is the doctor’s solution to this problem? Silicone scrubbers, which feature bristles rather than holes, and can therefore be cleaned much more easily than a common sponge.
But not everyone was happy to learn about Dr. Pompa’s controversial take on sponges—with many people accusing the medical expert of needlessly “overreacting.”
“He probably invented those [silicone sponges] that’s why he wants you to buy them , I’ve used sponges my whole life and I’m never sick,” one person wrote.
Another chimed in: “That’s what the dish SOAP or BLEACH is for, to kill bacteria. Our guts are strong.”
(TikTok/Dr. Pompa)
(TikTok/Dr. Pompa)
One person noted that silicone scrubbers may not actually be a safe alternative, because it could well grow mold if it is not properly dried out.
“As someone who has silicone bath toys for their kids, that will grow mold. I even had a silicone sponge holder in my sink that molded and I had to toss,” the user commented.
While Dr. Pompa’s advice was not particularly well received, studies do indicate that bacteria tends to thrive much more in sponges than in other common kitchen cleaning aids.
According to a 2022 study published by the National Library of Medicine, used sponges were found to contain much more bacteria than scrubbing brushes, with the study noting that the use of brushes was largely more hygienic than the use of sponges.
Similarly, experts at Michigan State University warned that any sponges or cloths that have developed any kind of odor likely have bacteria hiding within them.
“Are your sponges and dish cloths clean? Chances are, they’re not. A damp, smelly dish towel, cloth or sponge is a sure sign that unsafe bacteria are growing,” a university article warned. “Replace sponges or sanitize sponges once a week; don’t wait until they are smelly or falling apart.
“Sponges provide an ideal environment for pathogens to multiply, offering warmth, moisture and lots of ‘food.’ A sponge can contain all types of bacteria, including campylobacter, salmonella, staphylococcus, E. coli, and listeria. All of these bacteria can cause mild to severe intestinal and skin infections.”
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Source: www.realtor.com
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