Seven in ten fridges contain sepsis-causing bacteria - here’s how to avoid the risks

A new investigation conducted by Which? has found that seven out of ten fridges contain harmful bacteria.

Are you looking after your fridge properly? (Photo: Shutterstock)

The worst cases from the investigation found high levels of bacteria that can cause a variety of illnesses and infections, including sepsis.

What did the investigation find?

The investigators took five swabs from different locations in ten fridges. These were:

Are you looking after your fridge properly? (Photo: Shutterstock)

- Vegetable drawer

- Bottom shelf (where meat should be kept)

- Upper door rack

- Back wall

- Outer door handle

The report states: “You introduce new microbes into the fridge every time you unpack groceries, so we weren’t surprised to find that every fridge was teeming with bacteria.”

While many of the samples came back harmless, the investigation did unearth some concerning samples.

19 of the 50 samples showed the likes of Aeromonas bacteria, Enterobactera clocae and Klebsiella oxytoca, as well as others.

“These germs are linked with respiratory and urinary infections, especially for people with existing health problems or weakened immune systems,” the report said.

These bacteria can cause “food-borne illnesses and a range of infections, from skin conditions to sepsis” the report said.

It continued: “They’re likely to have come from unwashed vegetables, highlighting the importance of cleaning your fridge regularly.”

Failing to keep your fridge at the correct temperature, and not cleaning it frequently enough are two of the main reasons that harmful bacteria thrive.

How to keep my fridge safe?

According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), a fridge should be kept between the temperatures of 0°C and 5°C.

“Chilling food properly helps stop harmful bacteria from growing,” the FSA explains.

The best way to check the temperature of your fridge is by using a fridge thermometer.

The FSA says: “This is because the dials on fridges don’t always show you the right temperature.”

“More than four in ten of the fridge freezers we’ve tested have a default or recommended setting that’s either inaccurate or unreliable,” Which? reported.

The coldest part of your fridge should register below 5°C.

How to best clean my fridge?

The Which? investigation put together a list of advice for effectively cleaning your fridge:

- You should clean your fridge and defrost your freezer around once a month.

- Cleaning the fridge will bring the internal temperature up, so time cleaning to take place before a big shop, when your fridge is empty.

- Take out the shelves, drawers and door racks to clean in warm, soapy water.

- Wipe down the inside of the fridge with lukewarm, soapy water - but try and minimise the amount of time the fridge door is open (and how warm the water is) as both of these will bring the temperature of the fridge up.

- Anti-bacterial spray is not recommended for cleaning your fridge as it runs the risk of getting on your food.

- Mixing water and baking soda is an effective way to tackle stubborn stains, and a small cup of baking soda placed in the fridge will help absorb odours.

The FSA also recommends being aware of not overfilling your fridge.

Leaving some breathing space will allow the air to circulate more effectively and maintain a consistent temperature.