The average British barbecue contains TWICE as many germs as a toilet seat



Outdoor grill contains 1.7 million microbes per 100cm sq - 124% more than a toilet seat - and just 36% of people clean it more than twice a year

Bin lids have next highest bacteria count - a staggering 1.2 million per 100 cm sq, compared to 759,950 on a toilet seat

Microbes in the garden include e-coli, salmonella and listeria all of which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea

The average British barbecue contains twice as many germs as a toilet seat, a disturbing new study has revealed.



Hygiene expert Dr Lisa Ackerley found the typical outdoor grill contains a staggering 1.7 million microbes per 100cm sq.



That makes it the grubbiest surface in the garden, with a worrying 124 per cent more germs than a toilet seat.

The above image shows where microbes are most concentrated in the typical garden, with red having the highest number of germs and yellow zones following closely behind.

Remarkably, these tests – carried out for cleaning brand Jeyes - were conducted on barbecues that looked clean to the naked eye.



High levels of microbes in the garden can indicate the presence of more sinister organisms and bacteria such as e-coli, salmonella and listeria.

And these can cause severe vomiting or diarrhoea if transferred to the burgers and sausages cooked on the grill, Dr Ackerley warned.

Despite our diligence in keeping the inside of our homes clean and germ free, most Britons overlook garden cleaning, the study of 1,400 people found.

The typical outdoor grill contains a staggering 1.7 million microbes per 100cm sq - a worrying 124 per cent more germs than a toilet seat

THE FIVE HOUSEHOLD AREAS DIRTIER THAN YOUR TOILET

Carpets are a germ breeding ground and can be up to 4,000 times grubbier than your toilet seat. A 2008 UK study found that computer keyboards carry up to five times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Kitchen sinks typically contain more than 500,000 bacteria per square inch than a typical loo.

Kitchen sponges can contain a staggering 200,000 times more bacteria that your toilet. Mobile phone have been found to be 500 times more germ-ridden than a typical loo.



In fact, a houseproud 71 per cent clean their kitchen table every day and 42 per cent scrub their toilet with the same regularity.

But just 28 per cent clean their patio table more than twice a year, and only 36 per cent wash their barbecue as often.



Dr Ackerley - one of the UK's leading food safety experts - found bin lids have the next highest bacterial count with 1.2 million microbes per 100 cm sq.



They pose a risk to householders taking out the rubbish and highlight the importance of washing hands, she said.

In fact, four of the six garden areas tested were found to contain more bacteria than a toilet seat - home to 759,950 microbes per 100 cm sq.

Bacteria in the garden can include decaying plant matter, dropped or spilled food as well as deposits from wild or domestic animals, including birds.



Enjoying food prepared outdoors is less appetising after the news that barbeques harbour more germs than toilets and bins

E-coli, salmonella and listeria are particularly dangerous for the very old and very young.



Dr Ackerley said: ‘We often see our gardens as an extension of our homes but they could become a reservoir of harmful bacteria.



‘They potentially give rise to illness and infection if transferred to your food or your mouth by your hands.

‘To help keep the family safe, I would suggest cleaning and disinfecting garden furniture and barbecues prior to use.



‘And, if you have small children, then remember to clean areas that may come into contact with their hands - such as decking and play equipment.

