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The germiest spot in your kitchen? The spice jars, a new study found.

By Emily Heil

18 Jan 2023 · 3 min read

Editor's Note

The results surprised even the food safety experts conducting the study. All sorts of bacteria might be collecting on this "neglected surface".

If you had to guess the germiest spot in your kitchen, you might think of the refrigerator handle, the cutting board or maybe the inside of your sink. But a new study shows that icky bacteria could be more likely to be lurking in an unexpected spot: your spice drawer.

Researchers in a recent study commissioned by the Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service examined how people preparing turkey burgers cross-contaminated various surfaces in a kitchen. (Sneakily, the participants weren't told they were participating in a food safety study; instead, they thought they were testing new recipes.)

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