Here's why:
* Bleach is Toxic: Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is a harsh chemical. It's corrosive and can cause burns, irritation, and poisoning if ingested or if it comes into contact with skin or mucous membranes. Even diluted, bleach can leave a residue on your skin.
* Food Contamination: If you wash your hands in bleach water, even if you rinse them, there's a high risk of transferring bleach residue to the food you are preparing. Ingesting bleach can cause serious health problems, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and esophageal damage.
* Ineffective Handwashing: Bleach is not an effective handwashing agent for removing dirt, oils, and microbes. It can kill some germs, but it doesn't physically remove them. Regular soap and water are far better for cleaning hands effectively.
* Risk of Chemical Reactions: If bleach comes into contact with certain foods or cleaning products, it can create toxic fumes or other harmful chemical reactions.
Safe Handwashing for Food Preparation
Here's how to properly wash your hands before preparing food:
1. Wet your hands: Use clean, running water (warm or cold).
2. Apply soap: Use plain soap. Antibacterial soap is not necessary.
3. Lather: Rub your hands together to lather the soap well. Be sure to get between your fingers, under your nails, and on the backs of your hands.
4. Scrub: Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds (humming the "Happy Birthday" song twice is a good way to time it).
5. Rinse: Rinse your hands thoroughly under clean, running water.
6. Dry: Dry your hands with a clean paper towel or air dry them. If using a cloth towel, make sure it's clean and changed frequently.
In summary, never use bleach to wash your hands, especially before handling food. Stick to soap and water for safe and effective hand hygiene.