Bugs à la carte: Microbial contamination of electronic menus

The use of electronic menus has become frequent, with numerous advantages for customers and the restaurateur. As a result, mobile technological devices including tablet computers are increasingly used to replace the classic paper menu. This trend raises questions about control measures to avoid the transmission of pathogens through this new technology as it has been shown that tablet computers can frequently harbor pathogenic bacteria. We propose that the risks associated with contamination of electronic menus in restaurants and the efficacy of cleaning protocols should be evaluated.