Desk Dining: Is Your “Lunch Table” a Germ Magnet?
Let’s be honest — most of us eat at our desks. Whether it’s a quick sandwich between meetings or a snack while catching up on emails, desk dining has become the norm. But have you ever stopped to think about what might be on your keyboard waiting to be moved into your body via hands to mouth, eyes or nose?
🍽️ Why Experts Say “Don’t Eat at Your Desk”
Psychologists and nutritionists often advise against desk lunches. They say we should take a break, stretch our legs, and refresh our minds. And yes, that’s great advice! But there’s another reason to reconsider your desk dining habits — hygiene.
🦠 What’s Really on Your Desk?
Over the years, I’ve swabbed countless desks, keyboards, and computer mice. The results? Let’s just say they weren’t appetising. Surfaces can harbour microbes such as E. coli O157, norovirus, and cold and flu viruses — especially if people aren’t washing their hands properly.
🚽 The Journey to the Centre of the Toilet…
Imagine this: someone uses the toilet and doesn’t wash their hands. Then they touch the fridge, kettle, coffee jar, stair rail… and finally, your desk. That’s how pathogens travel — and it’s not a journey you want your lunch to take.
Studies show that 12–20% of people may carry norovirus without any symptoms. If they don’t wash their hands, they can unknowingly spread it to shared surfaces — a big concern in hot-desking environments. The journey of the germ then allows viruses and bacteria to travel from one person to another via hands, and then onto….your sandwich! The same applies to cold and flu viruses picked up from office surfaces to your hands and then your desk space, making it to the final destination when you rub your eyes!
🧴 Top Tips for a Cleaner, Healthier Office
Even if you must eat at your desk, here are some simple ways to keep things hygienic:
- Wash your hands after using the toilet — and ask the office to put reminder signs inside the cubicle, not just above the sink. These could be amusing – hygiene doesn’t have to be boring. The funniest one I ever saw was “No poo poo fingers.”
- Clean your desk before and after work, especially if you’re hot-desking. Use antimicrobial wipes.
- Dispose of tissues immediately if you have a cold — don’t leave them lying around.
- Wash your hands before eating — it’s basic, but often forgotten.
- Move your keyboard aside to avoid crumbs, and clean up after eating.
- Check the office fridge regularly and toss out expired food before it grows legs!
🧪 How Clean Is Your Desk?
Try this: tip your keyboard upside down and give it a gentle tap. What falls out? Crumbs? Dust? Mystery particles? You can’t see germs, but this little test might give you a clue about how dirty your workspace really is. But if you share a keyboard with other users, I would wipe it down before starting work however clean it might look.
And yes — leftover food and crumbs can attract mice and cockroaches. Not exactly ideal office companions!
🧠 Is It All Bad?
Not necessarily. Some people use their lunch break to scroll through social media or do a bit of online shopping. So while they’re not moving around, they’re still taking a mental break — which is better than nothing.
And let’s face it, if your office is next to a busy road or on an industrial estate, going for a walk might not be very appealing.
🚶♀️ The Bottom Line
If you can, take a walk and eat away from your desk. But if you’re desk-bound, just be mindful of hygiene. A clean desk isn’t just nicer — it’s healthier.
References:
- Wang, J., Gao, Z., Yang, Zr. et al. (2023). Global prevalence of asymptomatic norovirus infection in outbreaks: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Infectious Diseases
- Robilotti E, Deresinski S, Pinsky BA. (2015). Norovirus. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 28(1), 134–164. DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00075-14
