National Hygiene Campaign

National Hygiene Campaign Aims to Raise Awareness (and Stamp out Bugs)

“We have all seen the grades the council issues to our local restaurants ... A, B, or ‘run for the hills’. But outside these, New Zealand has no real hygiene standards that are readily identifiable and have some means of measurement. We happily send our children to day-care, work out in gyms, sit in offices or ride trains without ever considering that although such places look clean, are they actually hygienic?” says the Hygiene Foundation of New Zealand’s Strategy Director, Lance Ryan.

The Foundation is an independent advisory firm established to provide organisations with information and advice about hygiene and wellness. The White Tick Program recognises an organisation’s commitment to continual improvement of its hygiene standards through technology and education. Companies will be awarded the White Tick certificate to display on site.

World-renowned microbiologist, Dr Charles Gerba, commented that “we spend more and more time at our desks, but we haven’t learned to bring the hygiene habits we have at home to the office.” The Foundation will be helping organisations do precisely this.

The Foundation provides education through scientific analysis on a monthly basis although, often, it is simply the application of common sense rather than a “superstar product”.

“As an example, one of the most bacteria-ridden places in a hotel room is never cleaned ... the humble TV remote. Now consumers can look to find which companies have earned the White Tick before choosing where to eat, work or play,” Mr Ryan said.

The Foundation’s national awareness campaign begins on the 29th October.

ENDS

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