Ensuring Food Safety: Can Handwashing 'Lie Detectors' Detect Chef Hygiene?

Americans enjoy dining out, whether it's at a restaurant or grabbing a quick meal at a sandwich shop or fast-food chain. However, every time they eat out, they are trusting the people hired to prepare their food with their health and wellbeing.

Poor personal hygiene, particularly inadequate handwashing, is a significant issue in the food services industry.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food workers only wash their hands properly one out of every three times. This means that germs can easily spread from food workers' hands to the food they handle, which could lead to outbreaks of dangerous foodborne illnesses in restaurants.

Improving handwashing practices is crucial for food workers to help prevent outbreaks of diseases such as norovirus, Salmonella, and E. coli. This simple act can make a big difference in keeping people safe and healthy.

Christine Schindler, a biomedical engineer and inventor, has been dedicated to this cause for the past seven years. She is actively involved in the fight to promote better hand hygiene practices in the food industry to protect both workers and consumers.

A handwashing lie detector

Schindler is the cofounder and CEO of PathSpot, a tech startup based in New York. They have created a device that focuses on hand hygiene, aiming to enhance the safety of employees and customers in food-related businesses such as restaurants, food manufacturers, and packaging plants. This device is designed to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses and outbreaks.

PathSpot’s device, known as the Handscanner, is described by Schindler as a handwashing lie detector. It is currently in use in 10,000 food service establishments globally, including franchise locations of Taco Bell, Arby’s, and Chopt restaurants.

A cluster of norovirus virions, or virus particles, is shown in this digitally-colorized transmission electron microscopic (TEM) image. The image reveals the ultrastructural morphology of the virions. This image was captured by Charles D. Humphrey at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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The scanner weighs less than five pounds and is about half the size of a mounted hand dryer.

The device is placed next to an employee handwashing station typically where food is prepared.

After washing their hands with soap for 20 seconds and drying them with a paper towel, a worker then places their hands under the scanner. They first position their palms facing up, followed by their palms facing down, to activate the scanner.

The scanner uses light fluorescence spectroscopy, a type of imaging technology commonly used in healthcare. This technology quickly identifies any remaining contaminants on the hands and wrist within two seconds. It does this by utilizing safe non-UV LED lights to detect any residual contaminants.

Schindler mentioned that the hospital-grade technology is able to quickly detect gut biome molecules that can spread norovirus, E. coli, salmonella, Hepatitis A, Listeria, and other common illnesses. This is especially useful in hard-to-clean areas like beneath fingernails and in and around jewelry and knuckles.

A screen on the device will notify the employee if their handwash scan reveals contamination that could cause foodborne illnesses. Dutch Waanders, the cofounder and chief technology officer of PathSpot, explained that the Handscanner provides immediate detection, with results appearing on the screen within two seconds.

If the device detects contamination, the person will be reminded to wash their hands again for 20 seconds, dry them, and rescan.

According to Waanders, the Handscanner is not a diagnostic tool. Instead, it can identify molecules associated with pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses.

Rebecca Bartles, an expert in infection prevention and control, believes that the PathSpot Handscanner shows promise and could benefit from further research and validation.

Bartles, who serves as the director of research for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, mentioned in an email to CNN that new methods for identifying contamination are exciting. She also noted that having some information is better than having no information in certain situations.

Thorough and frequent hand hygiene is crucial in preventing the spread of disease in all situations. Using technology to improve compliance and quality of hand hygiene is an exciting possibility. Remember, don't try to cheat the system.

Ignoring the scan result can be risky. The system is designed to hold people accountable.

Using employee ID codes or RFID badges, the system can monitor handwashing. Restaurants can select their preferred tracking methods, such as fingerprint or face recognition.

If you forget to wash your hands after failing a scan, we will alert management at the restaurant location about a potential contamination situation. This is important for maintaining a safe environment.

It's important to note that wearing gloves is not a substitute for handwashing. In fact, gloves can spread contamination just as easily as bare hands, making them even more dangerous. It's best to always wash your hands thoroughly to prevent the spread of germs.

"Gloves can give a false sense of security. People often tell me their hands are clean because they're wearing gloves, but when I suggest licking them, they refuse, realizing that their gloves are actually dirty. They might have touched money or garbage before handling food."

The CDC also mentioned a report from the Environmental Health Specialists Network about food worker handwashing. The report suggested that using gloves in food settings could actually result in less handwashing.

The PathSpot system, priced at $50 a month for restaurant operators, provides valuable real-time employee data. This data can help identify gaps in hygiene protocols, allowing businesses to address any concerns, according to Schindler.

Schindler noted that when an employee fails a handwash test, they tend to increase the frequency of handwashing by three to five times. Additionally, she mentioned that nine out of 10 employees voluntarily scan their hands when leaving work, even though it is not mandatory. The reason behind this behavior is that they want to ensure the safety of their families when they return home.

Modernizing cleanliness with a tech twist

She shared, "I was brainstorming ways to create technologies that can function without heat, air conditioning, power, and even a ceiling in certain hospital environments." After returning to the United States in 2015, she recognized a similar need for innovation.

A few years ago, Schindler, a global and public health expert with a Bachelor of Science in biomedical/medical engineering and global health from Duke University, was working in the developing world on low-cost medical grade tools and technologies.

During her work, one particular issue that caught her attention was foodborne illness.

She mentioned that there were significant outbreaks that led to people being hospitalized and even dying. The media reports pointed fingers at lettuce or cereal, but she was skeptical because lettuce doesn't typically cause illnesses. She wondered about ways to improve the food supply system to avoid such situations.

Upon discovering that nearly 90% of the contaminants in those outbreaks were linked to inadequate handwashing practices, she was intrigued and motivated to delve deeper into the issue.

"Why is the best solution we have just a sign reminding employees to wash their hands before returning to work if that's what's causing all these outbreaks?" she asked. "I wanted to find a better way to solve that problem."

PathSpot has raised over $20 million in funding so far, with investors such as the founders of Chopt Creative Salad Co. and Valor Siren Ventures, which was established with a starting investment from Starbucks.

Only a few Starbucks locations have the Handscanner, while most of Chopt's 90 locations use PathSpot, as reported by the company.

Chopt's cofounder Colin McCabe mentioned, "Food safety in restaurants has become a more urgent issue over the past five to 10 years."

PathSpot is revolutionizing the way we think about food safety and hand hygiene by bringing a modern approach to an outdated system. This is crucial for an industry that has been resistant to change and innovation.

According to him, the key is to establish a culture of food safety within the restaurant's premises.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the alarming issue of poor hand hygiene in the food industry, particularly inadequate handwashing practices among food workers. It emphasizes the critical role handwashing plays in preventing dangerous foodborne illnesses, such as norovirus, Salmonella, and E. coli. The article showcases the innovative solution developed by PathSpot, a technology startup that has created a "handwashing lie detector" called the Handscanner. This device uses light fluorescence spectroscopy to detect residual contaminants on hands and wrists, providing immediate feedback to employees, ensuring compliance with handwashing protocols. The article also discusses the importance of using technology to improve hygiene standards and promote a culture of food safety within the industry. inadvertently spread contamination if not handled properly. Thorough and frequent handwashing remains paramount in preventing the spread of germs and maintaining a hygienic environment. The PathSpot system not only monitors handwashing but also provides valuable data that helps restaurants identify areas for improvement, ultimately safeguarding the well-being of both employees and customers. By embracing technology and modernizing cleanliness practices, the food industry can take significant strides towards creating a safer and healthier dining experience for all.