Don't Run the Risk of Sidelining Game Day Guests with Germs

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- If you are among millions of Americans gathering around the wide screen for the Big Football Game this Sunday, call the right play for your party. Spread fun not germs!

Donna Duberg, a leading hygiene expert, assistant professor of clinical laboratory science at Saint Louis University and member of SCA's Tork® Green Hygiene Council™, said large football game gatherings may raise the risk of spreading germs. "With so many people in one place sharing food and drinks, it's easy to pass on or encounter harmful germs that can cause everything from seasonal colds and the flu to contaminated foods. It's important to take the proper precautions," said Duberg.

To significantly cut the risk of spreading germs, incorporate these tips into your football game playbook and everyday life:

Keep the Flu on the Sidelines this Flu Season

Don't forget, it's still flu season. One of the best ways to prevent infection is to wash hands frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating or after touching the eyes, nose or mouth. Remind your guests to dry their hands thoroughly with a single-use paper towel and immediately throw it away to avoid cross-contamination. Another recommended rule-of-thumb is to encourage guests to always stay at home when feeling under the weather. Other football game party guests will thank you.

Block Germs from Making a Pass

Cold and flu germs are spread through airborne droplets from the mouth and nose that can easily be transferred to others especially during the peak flu season. These droplets also land on surfaces that can remain contaminated for several hours, which guests can touch and be exposed to without knowing.  Set out smaller food portions, replacing them with new containers and fresh servings every quarter, as this will help eliminate the amount of food left out in the open where germs from the occasional cough or sneeze can land. Provide spoons in the candy and nut bowls, as well as with all finger foods and dips, to avoid numerous hands from touching these snacks or double dipping.  Keeping a bottle of hand sanitizer near the food spread is also a simple way to keep the germs that hands harbor at bay.

Intercept Foodborne Illness During Flu Season

Your football game party invite may ask family and friends to bring their favorite menu items such as chili, bean dip or a veggie tray, but be sure to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold in order to avoid foodborne illness. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) has recently released lower impact numbers with regard to cases of foodborne illness, the numbers are still significant: 47.8 million cases of foodborne illness a year. Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs (including their juices) away from ready-to-eat foods and eating surfaces. Cook foods to the proper temperature – which can be found on the CDC website – and remember to not leave perishable foods out for more than two hours.

Tackle the Spread of Germs with Paper Products

In an effort to keep football game party germs sacked, provide recycled paper cups, plates and napkins at the buffet table to help avoid the spread of bacteria. Set out markers for guests to write their names on cups and encourage them to use a fresh paper plate each time they revisit the food table.

Avoid fanning decorative napkins, which can collect airborne germs.  Duberg recommends providing a one-at-a-time napkin dispenser, like SCA's TorkXpressnap®, so guests take only the one they touch, with the added benefit of reducing your guests' napkin usage (and messy hands). "You can even add a little team spirit by designing game day-themed inserts to slide into the photo slots on each side of the dispenser," says Duberg.

Looks like avoiding the spread of germs can be fun after all this year.

Going Green for Game Day and Beyond

Did you know that SCA recycles more than 750,000 tons of wastepaper each year in making its Tork products from 100-percent recycled fiber? To equate that to a timely figure, it is enough recycled paper to cover 234 football fields three-feet high, including the end zones. 

For more hand hygiene and sustainability tips from Donna Duberg and the rest of the Tork Green Hygiene Council, please visit www.torkgreenhygienecouncil.com. For more information on TorkXpressnap visit www.torkhome.com.

About SCA

SCA is a global hygiene and paper company that develops and produces personal-care products, tissue, packaging solutions, publication papers and solid-wood products.  SCA has many well-known brands, including the global brands TENA and Tork.  In 2009, global sales were $14.5 billion.  SCA conducts sales in 100 countries and has 50,000 employees. More information can be obtained at www.sca.com.

About Tork

The Tork brand offers a complete range of products and services within hygiene and cleaning for away-from-home washrooms, healthcare, food service and industry. Through customer understanding and particular expertise in hygiene and sustainability, Tork has become a market leader in many segments and a committed partner to businesses in over 90 countries. Tork is a global brand in the SCA portfolio. To keep up with the latest Tork news and innovations, please visit www.torkusa.com.

About TGHC

SCA created the Tork Green Hygiene Council (TGHC) to assist in its ongoing commitment to providing hygienic and environmentally responsible away-from-home washroom solutions. Comprised of top professional and academic authorities from across the country on green building, corporate sustainability, hygiene and germ prevention, the TGHC is a council of four experts that offer holistic and trusted perspectives on how businesses can create sustainable and healthy work and home environments. More information can be obtained at www.torkgreenhygienecouncil.com.

SOURCE SCA’s Tork Brand