With a one in four chance of you getting food poisoning, contaminated food is often considered the prime suspect, but poor toilet hygiene plays a major role in the spread of disease.

According to Initial, a study of 200 people at public toilets in a food hall environment showed 29% of men and 8% of women still don't wash their hands after using the toilet (Australian Food Safety Information Council, Canberra www.foodsafety.asn.au.

Initial National Technical Manager, David Gourdie, said the Food Safety Information Council ( Canberra ) statistics showed that of the remaining people in the survey who made an attempt to clean their hands, an incredible 80% of women and 93% of men didn't wash their hands properly.

"Some types of bacteria such as E-coli can survive in washrooms for up to eight days - longer than the average stomach upset. Fuelled by damp environments and high usage, public and staff toilets are their biggest allies," Mr Gourdie said.

"Good hygiene and hand washing are vital to combat germs, because once in your washroom, they find it easier to get back out than you would think.

"During normal use, toilet bowls develop a film, above and below the waterline, called a biofilm, created by the bacteria, and in which they breed."

Mr Gourdie said that every time a toilet was flushed it disturbed the biofilm, and created a fine mist, which was similar to a "sneeze effect". Germs are propelled back out of the toilet bowl and into the atmosphere for up to an hour.

Even with a closed lid, germs can be detected at head height above the toilet.

From here they can be inhaled . and, they are deposited on the toilet seat, on the toilet flush handle, on the cubicle floor and even on the toilet roll. From there it is only a matter of time before they are picked up and spread all over the washroom and, in the case of those people who are not washing their hands properly .beyond the washroom!

Initial has identified that normal cleaning of the washroom does not remove the build up of surfaces suitable for the growth of germs and bacteria.

Initial Research and Development, has developed the Calmic Sanitizer in its fight against the "sneeze effect". As part of the company's new Elite range of washroom products, the Calmic Sanitizer delivers a measured dose of a formulation, to control the production of bacteria.

Left untreated, the bacteria and germ-laden surfaces are just sitting there waiting for someone to touch them and continue the cycle of cross contamination.

Initial maintains that good hygiene is vital to combat the "sneeze effect", both in the washroom, and by those using the washroom.

In high usage bathrooms, outside the home toilet environment, normal disinfectants are not enough.

Proper hand washing is vital to help stop the spread of bacteria. Initial urges everyone to regularly wash their hands with a dispensed liquid or foam soap and dry them thoroughly with a disposable paper towel, a clean linen towel or a warm air dryer.