(CBS) – You may think the bathroom is the germiest place in your office, but you may want to think again.

If you prepare your lunch in the break room at work, you’re likely coming in contact with germs, lots of germs, even more so than in the bathroom.

The workplace break room tends to be a place where there is a high traffic and a high amount of contamination.

Kimberly Clark, the company that makes a number of hygiene products, did a study on germs in the workplace and took 5,000 samples from various types of businesses.

They found high levels of contaminants from the following surfaces:

• 75% of the sink faucet handles were filled with germs
• 48% of microwave door handles
• 27% of keyboards
• 26% of refrigerator doors

Other germ experts agree that break rooms are germ “hot-spots” and suggest taking simple precautions to protect yourself from getting sick from the viruses or bacteria that can end up on surfaces and at your desk.

The best thing you can do is wash your hands, a lot.

After you take your food from the refrigerator or microwave, wash your hands before you take it back to your desk.

If you don’t have access to soap and water then use a hand sanitizer.

And the best way to clean the break room is the same as what is best for your kitchen.

An effective cleaner can be as simple as a quart of water with a tablespoon of liquid soap and an ounce of bleach.

San Joaquin County Judge Brett Morgan on Wednesday denied 34-year-old Armando Rodriguez’s request for release.

The Record of Stockton reports the judge said he was uncomfortable releasing Rodriguez because of his methamphetamine and alcohol use and past behavior.

Health officials say Rodriguez failed to take the medication on his own, once telling a nurse he had gone on an alcohol binge and taken methamphetamine and didn’t want to hurt his liver.

He pleaded not guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor charges of refusing to comply with a tuberculosis order.

His public defender, Timothy Garrigan, says health officials have not looked at alternatives to jailing Rodriguez.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California company is recalling dried mushroom slices sold at Costco Wholesale stores that may have been contaminated with chemicals.

L.A. Link Corporation issued the voluntary recall Wednesday for Shitake-Ya brand gourmet shitake mushroom slices with a sell-by date of April 16, 2013.

The mushrooms were sold at Costco locations in California, Oregon and Washington.

The company says it discovered the mushrooms may have been contaminated with carbendazim and other chemicals.

Carbendazim is a fungicide used to control plant diseases.

The contamination was found after U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulators tested a product sample.

Shitake mushrooms are common to Asian cuisines and have a meaty cap and woody stems.

They are often sold dried and are reconstituted for cooking.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Sacramento and Solano county health officials are working to notify the parents of 35 newborns that their babies were exposed to tuberculosis while in the neo-natal intensive care unit at two area hospitals.

The exposure happened at the NICU at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento and NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield when a Solano County resident with an active case of TB spent time in both facilities. A total of 35 babies were exposed.

State health officials will also be contacting other patients, visitors and staff who may have been exposed to the TB germ.

“From the medical evidence we have reviewed so far, we believe that the risk of infection with TB in this particular case is low,” said Michael Stacey, Solano County’s chief medical officer. “We will take the necessary measures to ensure that all those with significant levels of exposure are tested and, if necessary, treated with antibiotics.”

The period of exposure at Sutter Memorial’s NICU was from March 14 to March 31. The exposure at NorthBay Medical Center was from April 11 to April 19.

Tuberculosis is a serious, treatable, and slow-growing bacterial lung disease. It is transmitted by coughing, sneezing, talking or singing, according to the state health officials.

People with an active case of TB may cough, fell weak, have a fever, lose weight and cough up blood.

The Solano resident with TB is currently isolated and receiving treatment.

Chief Administrative Law Judge Michael Chappell upheld an earlier complaint from the Federal Trade Commission that was filed in September 2010 against POM and its parent company, Los-Angeles-based Roll International Corp. The company’s health claims, such as “The Antioxidant Superpower”, are a hallmark of its advertising and are seen as working to convince consumers that they are worth a premium price.

• SLIDESHOW: Too Good To Be True (Deceptively Advertised Products)

In the FTC’s original complaint, the agency alleged that the POM respondents’ heart disease claims were false and unsubstantiated because many of the scientific studies did not show benefits from using POM products for treating or preventing heart disease. It alleged that the prostate cancer claims were false and unsubstantiated because, among other reasons, the study the POM respondents relied on was neither “blinded” nor controlled. Finally, the FTC alleged that the erectile dysfunction claims were false and unsubstantiated because the study on which the company relied did not show that POM Juice was any more effective than a placebo

Jude Chappell ordered POM to halt all claims of health benefits, performance and efficacy for its beverage unless the representation is not misleading. Expert witnesses testified in court that scientific evidence does not support claims made in company advertising, which appeared in national newspapers, magazines and online.

POM Wonderful is credited with having started the pomegranate craze that has spread to everything from smoothies to salad dressings.

Chappell did not completely agree with FTC’s complaint, rejecting an argument that the company should have to provide evidence from rigorous medical trials – the same standard required of pharmaceutical companies. Instead, the judge said the company could provide “competent reliable scientific evidence.”

Los Angeles-based POM Wonderful touted that ruling as a victory in a company statement. “We consider this not only to be a huge win for us, but for the natural food products industry,” Craig Cooper, Chief Legal Officer for POM Wonderful LLC, said in a company statement.

“We have always believed in the power of the pomegranate and are pleased that we will be able to continue to showcase the fantastic health benefits inherent in this wonderful fruit,” added, Stewart A. Resnick, President of Roll Global.

The judge’s ruling becomes final after 30 days, unless the company appeals. POM said it is “continuing to review the ruling,” but did not indicate plans to appeal. In addition to POM Wonderful juice, the company sells POMx pills and liquid extract.

Recently “deceptive” health advertisements were spotlighted by an FTC ruling on Skechers Shape-ups and the company’s other toning shoes. The FTC ordered Skechers to pay $40 million over health claims about weight loss, cardiovascular health and muscle building based on questionable studies, HealthPop reported.

The voluntary recall by River Ranch Fresh Foods of Salinas initially included lettuce shipped to California and Colorado. The company said Monday it had expanded the recall to the entire nation.

The bagged salads are sold under the names River Ranch, Farm Stand, Hy-Vee, Marketside, Shurfresh, The Farmer’s Market, Cross Valley, Fresh n Easy, Promark, and Sysco.

The recalled retail and foodservice salad bags have “best by” dates between May 12 and May 29 or Julian dates of 118 and 125. The code date is typically located in the upper right hand corner of the bags.

Click here for a full list of recalled salads.

Symptoms of listeria infection include high fever, headache and neck stiffness.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)