Q. What is the best counter material to reduce contamination?

If you are concerned about bacterial contamination of your kitchen countertop, stainless steel and granite are the way to go. That’s what a recent study shows by the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based organization that develops educational materials and research for the retail food industry.

The study measured the bacteria resistance capacity of six common countertop materials. Each surface was contaminated with E coli (nearly 2 billion of the microorganisms), washed and rinsed with soap and water and then sanitized with a vinegar-and-water solution.

Dr. O. Peter Snyder, Jr. who conducted the study says, “We hope our research will help consumers make healthy decisions when selecting a countertop surface for their kitchen.” Dr. O. Peter Snyder, Jr., has educated thousands of executives, owners, chefs, employees, and home food preparers in recipe hazard analysis and self-control procedures for producing safe food and is the president of Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management.

Surface Microorganisms Eliminated by Cleaning

Stainless Steel—85,113,804
Granite—79,432,823
Plastic Laminate—498,884
Tile—293,765
Concrete—32,810
Wood—2,080

Source: Today’s Homeowner Magazine