Ensuring restaurant supplies are free of bacteria

Many dishcloths used for cleaning purposes in UK restaurants and takeaways have been found to be harbouring bacteria, according to new research.

Indeed, the owners of eateries may wish to ensure that their own restaurant supplies are not posing such a health hazard, after the BBC reported that a Health Protection Agency inspection found its findings to be "unacceptable".

The watchdog visited 120 kitchens in the north-east and discovered that 56 per cent of the cloths it tested were carrying faecal bacteria or even dangerous bugs.

Other potential hazards the tests unveiled included E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria.

According to the BBC, restaurant workers should use disposable cloths that they regularly replace, along with separate cloths for areas of the kitchen where raw meat is prepared.

Due diligence may also be worthwhile when it comes to items such as tablecloths and restaurant aprons.

The Health Protection Agency was set up by the government in 2003 with the aim of protecting the public from health threats.