Revealed: The 5 Dirtiest Parts Of A Supermarket

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3/7 1. The conveyor belt: A study by the International Association of Food Protection showed that yeast, mould, staph, and coliform live and grow on the belts, and a study by Michigan State University found bacteria on 100 per cent of belts tested.
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4/7 2. Eftpos machines: Bad news for those of us who pay for groceries with a card that requires touching a pin pad - a study by microbiologist Richard Hastings claimed that pin pads were dirtier than public toilets.
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5/7 3. Fruit and vegetables: How many times have you given an avocado a squeeze then moved on to test another? Ready to eat fruits, such as apples, could have been touched by dozens of people before you select it and eat it. Dents and bruising can also provide an entry point for pathogens.
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6/7 4. Raw meat packaging: Ever picked up a packet of meat only to have it leak over you and the other packages? A UK survey found 40 per cent of chicken packs in supermarkets showed bacteria on the outsides of the packaging.
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7/7 5. The check-out counter: There are a several things that each customer comes in contact with at the check-out counter - money, hands, the base of a handbag. Multiplied by hundreds of customers throughout the day means a popular spot for bacteria.
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The world is full of germs. Even if we regularly wash our hands and keep our homes and work spaces clean, germs are still all around us - including where we buy our food.

Here's the top five germ spots in supermarkets...

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