During Christmas season, some Filipinos tend to use special kitchenware solely for the holiday festivities. However, experts advise thorough cleaning of these items before use, as harmful microorganisms may have already formed while they were not in use.

“Nahugasan mo nga last year, pero dahil may moisture pwedeng may molds and yeasts na andiyan. Nadaanan ng ipis, hindi mo alam. (You may have washed these utensils the previous year, but moisture may have already seeped in. Molds and yeasts could have formed, and pests such as cockroaches could have crawled into these utensils),” said microbiologist Dr. Windell Rivera.

Experts say Christmas dinnerware, similar to all other utensils may contain unseen germs.

“Maraming mga bagay bagay doon na bacteria, fungi, molds, mga yeasts, na hindi mo nakikita but it’s there (Bacteria, fungi, molds, yeasts, and other microscopic organisms may be hiding in ‘clean-looking kitchen ware’),” Rivera said.

“It’s invisible to the naked eye but it’s very visible when it comes to causing infections,” he added.

Experts say the public must not take sanitary precautions for granted, as they may contract several diseases due to poor sanitary practices.

“Pwedeng magcause ng eye irritation or even skin irritation. Kung may allergies sa molds baka mas Malala, may ilang cases mold or fungal infection sa baga. (Some cases may result to eye or skin irritation. If a person has allergies, it can result to worse cases. Some people suffer mold or fungal infection of the lungs).”

Molds and yeasts are known to spoil food, while some types produce mycotoxins, potentially carcinogenic to human beings. These toxins may also affect the body’s immune system. Bacteria depending on the type and its host may cause varying degrees of symptoms. Some cases result in vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.

In certain instances, the bacterium listeria may cause meningitis, inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. Although rare, viral