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One In Five Aussies Don't Wash Their Hands After Using The Toilet

Regardless of whether it's a number one or number two - by Alex Pierotti
  • 28 Oct 2019
One In Five Aussies Don't Wash Their Hands After Using The Toilet
Getty Images

Much like tying your shoe laces, riding a bike and learning how to spell you name, washing your hands after relieving yourself is something that's taught to everyone from pretty early on.

But turns out the message isn't sinking in (sorry, not sorry) with one in five Aussies admitting to skipping the clean-up after punishing the porcelain.  

WATCH: Dr Ginni Mansberg explains our bad habit

New research from the Food Safety Information Council revealed the damning statistic. The worst bit? Men are the biggest culprits. Meanwhile two in five aren't washing their hands before handling food. 

"The faecal-oral route is the number one cause of spreading diseases," Dr Ginni Mansberg told Weekend Sunrise.

"Apparently 76 per cent of blokes do wash their hands after the bathroom...86 per cent of women wash their hands,"

Age also plays a part. Older generations are far more likely to wash their hands after using the toilet than their younger counterparts. 

"Good handwashing, using running water, soap and drying hands thoroughly is a basic public health message that people seem to be forgetting," explains Food Safety Information Council's Lydia Buchtmann.

"This behaviour could be contributing to the estimated 4.1 million cases of food poisoning each year, not to mention spreading viral infections such as cold, influenza and norovirus."

So when should you wash your hands before handling food? Always, of course, but these are the more necessary occasions, according to the organisation:

  • before handling, preparing and eating food
  • after touching raw meat, fish, shell eggs or poultry
  • after using the toilet and changing nappies
  • after blowing your nose
  • after touching a pet
  • after gardening

And if you're not sure the best technique to rid your hands of any germs, they have a guide for that too: 

  • Wet hands and rub thoroughly and lather with soap for at least 20 seconds, washing between fingers and under nails.
  • Rinse well under running water to remove germs.
  • Use a clean towel and dry hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds. If your hands are still moist, they'll attract germs and encourage them to spread from surfaces.
  • If no running water is available, use an alcohol gel.
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Alex Pierotti
Alex Pierotti
Alex Pierotti is the Digital Content Editor for Men's Health Australia, with experience reporting on health, fitness and sport. With a Journalism degree from UNSW under his belt, he got his start working in TV, working on the live broadcast of the Intrust Super Shute Shield on 7TWO before making the switch to print and digital at Pacific Magazines.

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