WWA Info Exchange

"Contrary to popular belief, plastic cutting boards are not automatically safer than wood. Studies have shown that wood can actually be more sanitary in the long run. People assume that because wood is a porous surface and plastic isn't, plastic boards are more resistant to bacteria. This assumption doesn't take into account the scars a plastic cutting board will get from daily use. "

Of course, we knew this all along!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/1 ... mg00000063

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Nullum Gratuitum Prandium

Cheers - Dennis

Hey Dennis,
This was one of the first surprising counter intuitive facts that I learned while earning a food science MSc. The big difference is that plastic supports the film growth of bacteria, whereas wood tends to wick the moisture away, inhibiting the film growth. End grain boards are the best, both for longevity and for sanitation.
Cheers,
Tom

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"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."
Mohandas K. Ghandi

A quick wipe with vinegar takes care of any yuckie stuff!

Hey Ron,

Actually, some strains of E. coli and Salmonella sp. are acid tolerant. Vinegar will kill, or retard most spoilage organisms, but unfortunately, there are a couple of nasty pathogens that it won't.

When I did restaurant work (way back when), we would bleach the cutting board (all 12 feet of it) with a dilute mixture of chlorine bleach, at the end the day.

Cheers,
Tom

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"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."
Mohandas K. Ghandi

This is something that I will never believe. Plastic boards are not porous the knife scars only go so deep and cleaning products can reach and remove the "yuckey stuff". Not so in wood or granite, wood will suck the stuff deep inside, and granite the same, there is no way to get it out. Use them if you wish but for me a wooden board is for display only.

Hey Paul,

Would you believe the U.C. Davis? There a plenty of other published studies on the subject as well. Wood cutting boards have antibacterial qualities that plastic boards don't.

Cheers,
Tom

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"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."
Mohandas K. Ghandi

I love my wood boards for most cutting, but use plastic for meat and seafood because you can put them in the dishwasher.

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"To all those who work come moments of beauty unseen by the rest of the world." Norman Maclean

Nope, sorry Tom I won't ever believe it. It is just no possible.

Paul, there were people in the past who said the world is NOT round too.
I'm with TMS.

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Uncle Fixit

I recently investigated the matter for myself and found evidence that Tom is right, Paul. But...keep yours on display

Don