Under similar conditions, none of the bugs placed on plastic died. The scientific literature suggests that the number of Salmonella cells that might wash off a chicken carcass probably will not exceed about 1,000, Cliver notes. While the wooden boards appear to kill bacteria. So all we know is that by the best available means, we can't get them back after they go onto a hoard. The same is not true of knife-scored plastic cuning boards.
Boards sold to homeowners typically come from the factory treated with mineral oil.
In every one of our tests, if the wood had been treated to retard the penetation moisture, the bacteria survived longer. Wood's presumed bactericidal activity does not depend on whether it is new nor, apparently, an species. Cliver and Ak have already tested bonds from hard maple, birch, beech, black cherry, basswood, bunemut, and American black walnut. Tests on oak and ash are pending. The microbiologists hope to submit their findings for publication within the next few months.