Eating in a car will come back to haunt you

Eating in a car presents real health risks, unless you're an obsessive cleaner. As outlined by the Daily Mail, British accessories company Halfords conducted a study on consumer cars in which they found germs that cause food poisoning, skin infections and par break emission. Staphylococcus, bacillus and other harmful bacteria can contribute to a variety of internal and external (skin) infections.

Article Resource: Eating in a car is a sure ticket to food poisoning

Staph infection - Why eating in a car is not a good idea

Staphylococcal infections are transmitted very easily between individuals and can lead to the skin infection known as impetigo and intestinal food poisoning, writes the Mail. Bacillus cereus can sit in a vehicle's heating ducts until the system is turned on and also the warmth causes the spores to grow. It doesn't take long before a automobile is infested. If there are food particles after eating in a car, bacteria will inevitably grow.

Cleaning all surfaces drivers and passengers touch is necessary

If surfaces that drivers and passengers touch are not cleaned, food poisoning that causes severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can result. Staph is typically found in areas where hands might go (wheel, knobs, shift, handles), when bacillus gets down within the dirt on the mats, carpet, seats and vents. Of the infected cars within the Halfords study, 70 percent admitted to eating or drinking in a car, and leaving containers within the vehicle overnight. Half of the total study sample claimed they cleaned interior surfaces less than once a month on average, says the Mail. In the best of all possible worlds, Halfords recommends at least once per week.

Eating in a car is bad, but cooking on an engine is A-OK

How to Do Things writes that engine block cooking with hot dogs and other foods is quite possible. Simply use a tight double- or triple-wrap of aluminum foil to protect both food and engine. Pop the hood and place the wrapped hot dog on the part of your engine that generates probably the most warmth, but is safely from any wires and lines. This will vary from car to car, so do a hand test sometime and see if you are able to feel where the most heat is escaping. Do not literally touch the engine, just hold your hand over it.

Once you've found the place, secure the food using something that won't melt or burn up. You want the food to fit snug, but not cover the engine so much the engine overheats. Lower the car hood and hit the road. The duration will be determined by your car and what you are cooking. For additional data on how to car cook hot dogs or other foods, have a look at the whimsical book "Manifold Destiny".

Citations

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1284632/Eating-wheel-puts-risk...

http://www.howtodothings.com/automotive/how-to-cook-food-on-your-car-engine

http://books.google.com/books?id=tZIFAAAACAAJ&dq=cooking on your car engine&ei=CwYMR7nrDI--ogLO_oTdDg