Honestly, just go to a cafe (Picture: Metro.co.uk)

For the love of God, go out and buy a cup of tea or coffee instead of making one at work.

Making a hot drink in your office kitchen may be cheaper, but there’s also a chance the mug could be infected with your colleagues’ poo.

Toothbrush removed from man's stomach after he swallowed it while brushing

According to biologist Dr Charles Gerba, as many as 90 per cent of the mugs in office kitchens are covered in germs, and 20 per cent of those carry faecal matter.

That £2.50 Americano at Starbucks doesn’t look so pricey now, does it?


Dr Gerba, professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona, said horrendously dirty kitchen sponges that are rarely changed are to blame, News.com.au reported.

Don’t trust the tea round at work (Picture: Getty)

He said: ‘Coliform bacteria were present on 20% of the coffee cups before and 100% of the coffee cups after wiping with a dish cloth or sponge.



‘No E. coli was found on cups prior to wiping. However, 20% of coffee cups were positive for E. coli after wiping.

‘The presence of insanitary conditions in office kitchen and/or coffee preparation areas is of concern.’

Fortunately, you can avoid your colleagues’ poo entirely by taking your mug home and washing it every night.

Alternatively, it might be worth investing in a ‘small office cup washer’, Dr Gerba advised.

His findings were published in the journal Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation.