Some of us might be guilty of using our smartphones while in the kitchen preparing food. Greene County Extension has some tips to help keep phones and food separate.

Greene County Extension Director Lori Mannel says about 49-percent of people use their smartphones while in the kitchen and about one-third of those individuals are washing their hands on a regular basis.

“So I may go and get an ingredient and my smartphone goes blank and I have to touch it to get it back up. I should be washing my hands every time (I do that). Every time I do that, there’s an opportunity for bacteria to travel from my hands and then if I touch the food.”     

She offers some tips to help keep bacteria from phones and food. Mannel suggests cleaning and sanitizing phones on a regular basis with a lint free cloth, avoid taking phones into the bathroom and scrubbing your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap.