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In the Codex General Principles of Food Hygiene it only states that "hygienic" drying of the hands is required (inclusive of air dryers and paper towels)
However, in numerous other Codex documents it states that single-use paper towels are necessary (principles on preventing viruses, certain vegetables and fruits standards, meats among others)
Many other national/international documents also just say "hygienically dry hands" - European commission, FDA's Food Code, etc.
However certain countries standards and industry standards state that only single-use paper towels are acceptable in food areas (bathrooms are different)
ex. Ireland's NSAI standards, SQF, and most standards related to meat.
Again there IS variance in the industry standards too, however.
BRC, ISO, and others do not rule out air dryers but say something along the lines of "appropriate placement" of them
Questions:
What is everyone's thoughts on the topic?
Why is their such discrepancy among standards with regards to this?
An air dryer may save you money over time, but paper towels are more hygienic. The website Clean Link describes a study conducted by the University of Westminster in London that found that air dryers increased the spread of bacteria on the hands. Using paper towels reduced the amount of bacteria on the hands by 76 percent. The study also showed that a jet air dryer was capable of blowing micro-organisms off of a user's hands, potentially contaminating other bathroom users and the bathroom itself. Paper towels did not show any measurable increase in cross-contamination.
Paper towel is better that's my opinion , Hot air dryer may makes the hand warm and some water can remain in the hand which makes it moist so (moist + warmth) will make the chance of microorganisms to grow
Hot air dryers are better than paper towels.
" Hot air dyryers are better instead of Paper. Because ...
- It will help to cost saving.
- There will be less chances of contamination.
- It is very difficult to say that papers are 100% clean and not having any dirt or dust.
In the Codex General Principles of Food Hygiene it only states that "hygienic" drying of the hands is required (inclusive of air dryers and paper towels)
However, in numerous other Codex documents it states that single-use paper towels are necessary (principles on preventing viruses, certain vegetables and fruits standards, meats among others) but as taking considration of the current situation hand drayers are more better than Paper.
