Mark's $500 Gift Card Giveaway Rules

Mark's $500 Gift Card Giveaway Rules

Giveaway terms & conditions. Applies to Giveaway happening April 19, 2023-April 20, 2023.
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Summer Reading List for Lobster Lovers Blog image by Get Maine Lobster

Summer Reading List for Lobster Lovers

It's summertime in Maine! A time when we make the most of our small window of warm weather.

Maine summers are filled with beach days, berry picking, hiking, agricultural fairs, and if you're lucky, spending time "upta camp" (Mainer speak for lake house) with your favorite people.

Getting active outside is key to an authentic Maine summer experience, but it's often the quiet moments that provide our greatest pleasures - such as days spent lounging at the beach or pool with a good book.

Here are a few of our favorite lobster themed books to enjoy this summer:

Saving Libbie the Lobster, by Heather Chalmers & Marybeth Jeitner

This heartwarming story of Libbie, a rare yellow lobster's journey from a Florida supermarket to the Seacoast Science Center in New Hampshire features GML's very own Mark Murrell. Kids and grown-ups alike will love this tale of teamwork and wildlife rescue.

Lobster Tales, by David Hurley

Filled with fun facts, legends, and fascinating information about our favorite crustacean, this book is a pleasure for both young and "young at heart" readers. 

The Lobster Chronicles, by Linda Greenlaw

Written by a deep sea fisherman from Maine, this New York Times Best-Seller provides a fun literary escape and an inside view of life on a small Maine island. 

Stern Men, by Elizabeth Gilbert

If you like suspense, history and lobster 🩞, then you'll want this witty page-turner in your beach bag. Based on fictional islands off the coast of Maine, this novel tells a coming of age story with a gritty New England fishermen twist. 

The Lobster Coast, by Colin Woodard

This engaging book walks readers through the cultural history of Maine through the lens of Maine's lobster industry. A must-read for anyone who loves history, lobster, Maine, or all of the above! 

A great book makes the summertime extra easy...

And stories about lobstermen/women bring the spirit of the Maine coast to life - something worthy of experiencing no matter where you find yourself this summer.

PS...Here's a great snap shot of Mark with the real Libbie the Lobster!

Mark with Libbie

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Best BBQ Side Dishes Blog image by Get Maine Lobster

Best BBQ Side Dishes

Remember that great summer cookout you hosted or attended, where one special side dish completely stole the show?

Maybe it was your aunt’s famous potato salad, your brother-in-law’s bacon wrapped scallops, or your best friend’s spicy watermelon salsa. While the main course usually takes center stage at any given summer BBQ, it’s often the side dishes that really make our meals memorable.

As you fire up your grill this summer, here are a few delicious side dish recipes to keep in mind - especially if you’re ready to be the BBQ side dish star!

We hope these BBQ side dish recipes inspire you to bring something extra special and tasty to your cookouts this summer. Sharing joy through great food, and creating memories with your loved ones is what it’s all about.

Pro tip for all the above recipes: don’t forget to use the freshest Maine lobster to guarantee your side dish tastes its best!

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Date Night In Blog Image by Get Maine Lobster

Date Night In

During usual circumstances, treating your sweetheart to a surprise date night out on the town would be an easy way to spark joy, and show your significant other how much they're appreciated. We all know that a great dinner out, plus a great movie is (in most cases) a fail-proof combo for romance. 

While our current situation in quarantine makes it challenging to plan the perfect night out, romance is still alive! These days, folks are getting creative with their approaches to date night, by bringing "date night out" inside.

Here are a few ideas to help you plan a romantic "Date Night In" for your special someone.

Dinner & A Movie

This date night idea can skew fancy or casual. Your choice depending on your date's style! For the fancy angle, set your dining room table for dinner by candlelight. Lay out a nice table cloth, or an old sheet if you're in a pinch. Bring out your votives and candle sticks. Set the dimmers on your lighting, and put something soft and romantic on for music.

For dinner, try an indulgent recipe, like Lobster Linguine or Filet Mignon - and of course, don't forget the wine! The after dinner movie is up to you! We suggest a romantic comedy or heartfelt drama.

For a casual take on dinner and a movie, forgo the dining room table altogether! Try setting up a picnic in your living room or in your backyard. If your vehicle has room, outfit your hatchback or truck bed with a picnic blanket, cozy throws, and plasticware. Bring your laptop outside to have dinner and a movie drive in style - guaranteed to be a fun surprise!

Dinner should be casual and easy to eat. Think Shrimp Skewers, Bacon Wrapped Lobster Bites, etc. For your movie, try an action packed thriller (great for inviting your honey to snuggle up tight), a campy horror film or high energy comedy.

Dinner Al Fresco

Now that the weather is milder, why not enjoy some fresh air and romance outside? Elevate your humble patio table with cloth napkins, fresh flowers and non-plastic eating utensils from inside.

Fire up your grill, and serve something savory and unexpected for dinner, like Grilled Lobster Tails, Swordfish, or whole lobsters shipped in straight from Maine.

After dinner, if your date likes friendly competition, set up a couple yard games for some one-on-one fun. Cornhole, or sidewalk chalk tic tac toe are safe bets for smiles. Or if your yard setup allows, try toasting marshmallows over a bonfire or playing a game of trivia by the fire pit, under the setting sun.

Netflix & Chill

Sometimes, it's the smaller moments that connect us with each other the most. If your significant other could use some good old fashioned R&R, try planning a laid-back date for your next romantic night in.

Set your coffee table up for some no-fuss munchies and drinks. Bring out your coasters and potholders, cold canned drinks and sturdy dinnerware.

For dinner, think "comfort food": Mac & Cheese, Lobster Rolls, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, etc. The more indulgent, the better. This date is all about letting loose!

Complete your date with something light and fun that also doesn't require leaving the comfort of your couch. Find a binge worthy TV series to start watching together or a crazy (in a good way 🙂) documentary to stream.

PS. If you do try one of these ideas - or a great Date Night In idea of your own - be sure to let us know how it goes! We always love to hear how we've helped spark joy for our customers.

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Self-care tips for good health and wellness Blog image by Get Maine Lobster

Self-care tips for good health and wellness

Taking good care of ourselves (and each other) has always been important, but self-care is more crucial than ever during these days of COVID-19.

Here are a few of our favorite wellness tips together to help you feel your best, no matter what’s going on in the world.

Get outside

Studies have shown that spending time outdoors is good for our mental health and overall well-being. Although gathering in large crowds isn't in the cards right now, we can still enjoy some time outside while safely social distancing.

Try taking a walk through your neighborhood, going for a bike ride, or hiking an "off the beaten path" trail. You’ll enjoy some nice vitamin D from the sun, and get a bit of stress busting exercise in at the same time!

When it’s time to eat, go ahead and fire up your grill, and enjoy lunch or dinner Al Fresco. Relax on your deck or patio with a glass of your favorite wine. Spend some time tending to your garden (or make this the year you really start one 🙂).

Nothing lifts the spirit like fresh air and sunshine!

Catch some zzzs

At this point, there's no need to quote all the studies that show us the importance of getting a good night's sleep.

We all know why we should be getting forty winks each night, but we often aren't sure of how to sleep well - especially during an unprecedented pandemic.

If you're struggling with sleep, try cutting off the coffee and caffeinated drinks by 2pm, and resist the urge to bring your cell or laptop to bed. Keep your room cool, and dark (black out curtains can help), and invest in comfortable bedding.

Drink a warm cup of non-caffeinated herbal tea such as chamomile - but be sure not to drink too much water before bed! Certain sea foods, such as shrimp and lobster have been associated with better sleep, as they both contain naturally occurring tryptophan (the same stuff in turkey that makes us conk out after Thanksgiving dinner!). For your next dinner, why not try something delicious, that also helps you catch some zzzs?

Eat healthy and tasty food

Great food can bring us so much joy. In fact, some might consider that feeling we get from the first bite of a truly delicious meal to be joy in its purest form.

Fueling our bodies with healthy foods gives us the nutrients we need to feel our best.

Thankfully, healthy meals can also be incredibly delicious, so happiness and wellness can become one!

Be sure to fill your plate with colorful veggies - and take note: they don’t have to be boring or bland! Try a creative dish such as Stuffed Bell Peppers for a flavorful indulgence packed with important vitamins.

When it comes to meat, reach for lower fat, high quality protein. A fantastic choice for healthy eating, lobster can be prepared in countless ways, and makes a decadent substitute for higher fat meats in many, many recipes. Plus, lobster provides important vitamins and minerals such as B12, and copper - which has been linked to boosting immune systems, so you get health benefits plus a dining delicacy. Now that's a self-care approved treat!
Connect with loved ones.

With many working from home, and social distancing in play, it can be easy to feel isolated. Connecting with friends and family is critical to your well-being and peace of mind.

Catch up with a loved one on the phone, or video chat with an old friend. Many social activities can be adjusted to an online forum. Try hosting a virtual happy hour or dinner party.

No matter how you choose to do it, make sure connecting with others is an important part of your self care routine.

As you think about maintaining good health and wellness in the face of challenging days, here’s something to keep in mind: now's the time to take care of yourself, take care of your family, and take comfort in knowing brighter days are sure to be ahead.

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BBQ Recipe Roundup Blog image by Get Maine Lobster

BBQ Recipe Roundup

It's grilling season! 

The snow has melted, the chills are out of the air, and the sun is making a regular appearance again. It's time to fire up the grill! Lift your spirits and well-being with some fresh air, and tasty smoked flavors you can only get from dishes prepared cookout style. 

Enjoy grilling with your family at home, or video chat a loved one from your deck or patio for a laid-back take on social distancing. No matter how you choose to get your grill on, we invite you to welcome the brighter days ahead with this classic warm weather dining staple. 

We've rounded up 10 of our best backyard BBQ recipes to help you get started. 

Feeling inspired (and hungry 😀)? Check out the deals our customers are loving right now.

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Getting through an American beef shortage Blog image by Get Maine Lobster

Getting through an American beef shortage

It's bad enough we have to wait in line to go to the grocery store. Now, it seems many beef, chicken and pork processing plants are being forced to shut down because of the coronavirus.

Here are some tips to help you get your "meat" fix during a shortage.

Look beyond the supermarket

With meat plants facing shutdowns, now's a good time to look to your local farms, and other alternatives to larger grocery stores, who often source their meats from large processors.

Even with social distancing best practices in place, many smaller farms are able to serve their communities through local drop off services and farm stand hours. Check with the farms near you to see what options are available.

If you can’t swing a farm run, try having farm fresh meats delivered to you - such as one of our most popular current specials: a combo dinner that includes juicy, 12 oz. steaks from Pineland Farms, a natural beef producer here in Maine that’s committed to producing the highest quality all-natural beef from cattle raised in the Eastern region of the country.

Check out some of our easy dinner options that are in stock and ready to ship.

Try a Pescatarian menu

Not only is a Pescatarian or Pescavegan diet proven to have many health benefits, it can also be absolutely delicious - especially when you incorporate lobster, scallops, crab legs, and wild caught fish into your menu.

Pescatarians generally enjoy a vegetarian menu, and get their protein from seafood. Pescavegans eat a plant based - usually dairy free diet, and also look to seafood for a protein source.

From weight control to heart health, many benefits have been associated with a veggie and seafood based diet - and with a plethora of seafood based recipes available, this healthy diet can also provide great taste and a little fun. Especially for those who enjoy getting creative in the kitchen!

If you've ever considered giving these diets a try, there's no better time than now. Here are some delicious seafood options to get you started.

Eat more lobster!

We may be a little biased, but hear us out. Lobster is rich in flavor, a great source of many important vitamins and minerals, and makes a savory swap out for traditional red meat based recipes.

When it comes to lobster, there’s nothing like the ones caught off the coasts of Maine. The ice cold waters of the deep Atlantic gives the meat a sweet, ocean-fresh taste unlike lobsters found anywhere else in the world. It makes a truly indulgent meal! Long considered a dining delicacy, you won't feel like you're missing out when you replace beef or chicken with fresh lobster from Maine.

Not to mention, lobster comes with many health benefits of its own.

Check out our most popular lobster dinners and specials

Adjusting how we eat can be tough, especially when it's coming from a situation that's out of our control.

But, this temporary change can have a silver lining. Try some new recipes, get to know your local farms, discover new ways to eat healthy with seafood. Have something special delivered for your next dinner - why not experience something new and delicious, such as Live Maine Lobster?

In the meantime, we'll keep doing our best to help you bring farm fresh meats, authentic Maine lobster and scrumptious seafood to your table. As always, we're here to help and serve.

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Create a Restaurant Experience at Home Blog image by Get Maine Lobster

Create a Restaurant Experience at Home

A beautifully set table. The perfect, soft glow of light. A fine glass of wine. A tempting dish of incredible food. Engaging conversation. A memory made with a loved one or friend.

There's something magical about a great dining experience. During this time of social distancing, we may not be able to meet inside our favorite restaurants, but we do have the ability to create an amazing restaurant experience at home.

Here are some ideas to help you plan a restaurant quality dinner at home that feels as special as dining out (or even better).

Candle Lit Romance

Set the table: Pull out the wine glasses, cloth napkins, tablecloth and candles to create a dining table with an upscale, romantic vibe. Bonus points if you have both votives and candle sticks to bring to the table. Light them all, dim your lamps and prepare for romance. Fresh roses or orchids in a glass vase will add even more romance to your table. Can’t access flowers right now? Get creative with faux flowers or small plants you already have at home.

Cue the music: When it comes to creating the right backdrop for your restaurant style dinner at home, music really sets the tone. For a romantic at-home dinner, try playing soft and soothing music that won’t overpower intimate conversation. Light jazz, soft piano, acoustic ballads...whatever you and your dining partner prefer. Make it a total home run by creating a song list filled with tunes that mean something to you and your loved one.

What's on the menu: An upscale dining experience calls for an impressive meal. The good news? Creating a multiple course dinner doesn’t have to be difficult - you can have everything delivered to your door. Plan to incorporate a delicious appetizer, a special main course, elevated side dishes and something amazing for dessert.

Extra touches: Add personalized place-card to your dining partner’s seat when you set your table. A small, sweet note to your significant other is sure to make them feel appreciated, and drive the romantic vibe home.

Family Game Night

Set the table: This dinner at home is all about fun! Have your favorite board games ready to play after the meal, and bring out your trivia cards for some family dinner fun. If kids are joining your dinner, then using plasticware is far better than setting out your finest. If you have the material, try covering everyone’s table setting with a large swatch of paper (secure each piece to the table) and provide plastic cups with crayons for some coloring (or “hang-man” game) fun.

Cue the music: Play upbeat, kid-friendly music everyone can enjoy. Try a playlist that includes a few of each person’s favorite happy or silly songs. Creating a playlist could be a fun activity for kids (and grownups) who may find themselves bored at home.

What's on the menu: Every parent knows that even the most easy-going kids can be picky eaters. For a family dinner at home, focus on kid-friendly foods like Lobster Rolls, and don’t forget to add a sweet treat!

Extra touches: Create a first-place ribbon or official-looking award to hand out to the person with the most game “wins” of the evening. A bit of friendly competition always makes things extra fun.

Best BBQ Joint

Set the table: This tablescape is the most casual, because we all know the best BBQ tends to get messy. If you can’t eat your BBQ outside, then bring the outside picnic vibe in! Pull out your gingham check picnic table cover, or cover your table with a clean, brightly patterned sheet you don’t mind getting messy. Bring out your mason jars, striped straws, baskets, paper plates and melamine ware - and since this is BBQ, don’t forget to provide plenty of napkins :)

Cue the music: Throw on your favorite country western tunes, folk music or bluegrass. Any music that gives you that “down home” feel is perfect for this shindig.

What's on the menu: Since you’re throwing a BBQ at home, you aren’t limited to steak or burgers (though we recommend indulging if you can). Try something new and exciting on your grill, such as grilled lobster tails or grill up some Aussie style shrimp on the barbee. Maine Lobster Rolls also make a delicious and unexpected addition to any BBQ.

Extra touches: Brew up some southern-style sweet tea or make fresh squeezed lemonade. Find the best authentic cornbread recipe, and give it a go. Ever notice that the best BBQ joints always seem to have the best cornbread?

We’re here to help

We hope these ideas inspire you to create an incredible restaurant experience at home. If you're inspired to spoil someone special with a romantic dinner at home, check our latest dinner specials - perfect for creating an upscale that’s sure to impress.

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How to host a virtual dinner party Blog image by Get Maine Lobster

How to host a virtual dinner party

As the situation with COVID-19 evolves, we’ve all been doing our best to stay safe and practice social distancing. For most of us, this means Friday night happy hours at restaurants, Saturday brunch with friends, and Sunday dinners with extended family have been put on pause.  

But, just because we can’t get together in the physical sense, doesn’t mean we can’t connect with each other over a great meal. Living in the digital age gives us the ability to gather in a virtual space, so we don’t have to be “socially distant” while we practice social distancing. 

Hosting a virtual dinner party is a wonderful way to keep in touch with friends and family, and share a laugh during these uncertain times. And it isn’t hard to pull together! In fact, hosting a virtual dinner party can be fun. Here are a few tips to help you get started. 

Choose a "Venue"

These days, many options are available to host a virtual group. With its previous use centered primarily on video conferencing for work, Zoom is a service many people are now using to video chat with multiple people outside of the office. Google Hangouts, Facetime, and even Facebook Group Messenger can also work, depending on group size and technology available to your party guests. 

No matter which platform you choose, be sure to conduct a quick test run with a (non-judgmental!) friend or loved one, before the day of your party to work out any technology kinks. 

Set the Stage for Fun

Just as you would for an “IRL”/in real life party, you’ll want to select the right mix of people to invite to your party that’s taking place online. Will your dinner party include co-workers and a “happy hour” atmosphere? Your close-knit group of friends for cocktails and catching up? Or relatives of all ages for an extended family dinner? Your guest list will inform the tone and theme for your virtual dinner party - an important step in planning a fun and appropriate event for all participants. 

Once you have your guest list, you’ll want to select a theme to pull the party together. Your theme could center around a signature drink that everyone mixes together, you may wish to have everyone in your group order-in from your favorite restaurant. You could have something delicious delivered from GetMaineLobster.com, and organize a dinner party that revolves around preparing a delicious meal together. Why not throw something silly into the mix, such as wearing fancy hats or dressing up in your finest? The options are endless. This is a chance to get creative and have some fun!

Best Host Ever

The best hosts are able to keep their parties going smoothly and conversations flowing with ease. This same principle is true of a virtual dinner party. From the very start, be sure to include clear instructions on joining your party when you send out invitations, and touch base with those who may be “technology-challenged” a day before your event to ensure they’re comfortable with logging into your given platform and able to join the fun. 

Have a couple remarks ready to “greet” your guests once your party starts. A simple, “Thanks for joining everyone. I’m so glad all our family is here to celebrate dad’s birthday!” or “I miss our after work happy hours. Who else is ready to mix some drinks together and catch up!?” can go a long way in setting the tone. 

Once the party gets rolling, throw out a couple conversation starter questions, or lead a participation-heavy game like Pictionary. Plan on playing the leader role (or have this piece delegated pre-event), if your virtual party involves an activity like mixing a drink or preparing a meal.

No need to stick to a rigid schedule or script - having a general idea of the flow is what’s key. Afterall, the goal is to have fun and connect with others! We could all use a smile right now - and maybe your party will even start a new tradition that carries on after these challenging times end. 

And speaking of virtual parties...

We’re hosting our first virtual lobster roll luncheon on April 18, 2020! Make lobster rolls right along with Mark, get insider secrets on how to make and enjoy your lobster roll the traditional Maine way (which in our opinion is the most delicious), and much more. Keep an eye out for your invitation in your email - and if you haven’t joined our email list, now’s the time! 

Learn more about our famous Maine Lobster Roll Kit >

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Ready to Cook Meal Kits Product image by Get Maine Lobster

Ready to Cook Meal Kits

Thanks for your interest. Our friends that produce our Lobster Mac and Cheese and our Crab Cakes are willing to make the follow ing meal kits for you.

Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
..Delicious homemade meatloaf wrapped in bacon, served with garlic mashed potatoes, honey glazed carrots and mushroom gravy. Single Serving.

Bolognese Lasagna
A generous portion layered with pork and beef Bolognese, ricotta cheese, served with garlic bread and parmesan spinach. Single Serving.

Oven Roasted Turkey Dinner
.A complete dinner with slow roasted turkey breast, apple cranberry stuffing, roasted roots vegetables and gravy. Single Serving.

Shepherds Pie
.A full 2 pound portion for two people. Served in the traditional styles of layers of ground beef, carrots, onions, corn and peas in a savory tomato sauce. Then topped with garlic cheddar mashed potatoes. Served 2.

Sundried Tomato & Chicken Alfredo
Boneless chicken breast are sautéed in a parmesan and heavy cream alfredo sauce, then served over pappardelle pasta and finished with fresh grated parmesan. Single Serving.

Stay tuned for when these may be available.

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Status on the Wharf Blog image by Get Maine Lobster

[Video Update]: Status on the Wharf

Greetings, all. I wanted to send you another video update...

We're going to keep on trucking. We are here to serve if you need us.

At The Wharf:

  • Still have half the crew working from home
  • "Wharf" crew is healthy
  • Two cleanings at the wharf daily
  • Practicing social distancing
  • We're helping the locals as well

The Local Portland Catch

As I mentioned in the video, trying to "move" some seafood for our friends. This pack includes:

  • Fresh Quahogs (1lb)
  • Fresh Maine Mussels (2lbs)
  • 12 Maine Oysters.

I also found a recipe I think you will like for the Mussels and Quahogs. CLICK HERE to check it out. This pack is only $88.88 and includes overnight shipping. Upon ordering, it will arrive in 2-3 days. Only 20 packs available.

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Copper The relentless killer on our side Blog image by Get Maine Lobster

Copper: The relentless killer on our side

Report: Karoline Laarmann

Professor Bill Keevil, Director of the Environmental Healthcare Unit at University of Southampton’s School of Biological Sciences, was among the first microbiological researchers to experiment on copper’s efficiency against pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of E. coli bacteria and demonstrate the inherent anti-microbial property of the metal.

Since 2009, the copper industry set up worldwide field trials in busy hospitals in the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, the USA, Chile and South Africa, to transfer the research findings of Professor Bill Keevil and other experts into the real world of clinical practice. Participating hospital wards were fitted with copper alloy surfaces and samples were taken daily from those surfaces and compared with control surfaces. The results showed that the copper surfaces led to a 90% reduction of microbial numbers. However, does copper also reduce infection rates among patients? A current US study, introduced in the beginning of 2011, is trying to ascertain just that and the initial data reveals the effects of copper are very promising. Notably, this mineral is not new in the sphere of health. ‘Since ancient times, mankind has been aware of the beneficial properties of copper to reduce microbial infections – even though people did not understand the germ theory back then, they recognised the correlation between copper and disease protection,’ explained Bill Keevil.

Rich in copper

‘5,000 years ago, the Egyptians, for example, used copper to transport water and to heal wounds. Later on, in the 1850s, it was noticed that, during the Parisian Cholera outbreaks, the copper workers were not affected. But while in 20th Century copper alloys were used extensively for door handles, push plates, taps or work surfaces, the development of contemporary materials, such as stainless steel and plastics, began to eliminate copper from everyday life more and more.’ Explaining how he became involved in copper research, Prof. Keevil said: ‘Back in the 1980s, we started to work on copper at the Public Health Laboratory Service’s Centre at Porton Down and subsequently at Southampton University, first in water systems and later on in contact systems. The reason for that were the outbreaks of Legionella bacteria, which caused Legionnaires’ disease in people. As a waterborne pathogen, Legionella is disseminated through drinking water and cooling systems. It showed that if people used copper pipes, the legionella numbers were much lower.

‘Then, we started to examine Escherichia coli O157, often nicknamed the ‘burger bug’ and the ‘pate bug’, respectively, for the food industry and again it showed that the pathogens died very rapidly on copper surfaces. At the same time, we saw ourselves confronted with the drug-resistant ‘super bugs’ for the first time and wondered if copper surfaces would kill these, too. ‘In the first experiments we applied wet inocula (microorganisms used in an inoculation) on surfaces. These showed that the pathogens all died within two hours of contact -- when 10 million cells were on the surface. If the number of cells was reduced to 1,000 cells – in ward environments there can be low concentrations of only 1,000 super bug cells on a surface like a door handle – they even died in 15 minutes. ‘We then developed a dry inoculum test to mimic hand contact. We put a very low volume of organisms on the surface, the surface dries almost immediately and the equivalent of dry contacts showed that even 10 million cells died in under 10 minutes. When we reduced the concentration of cells, they died even faster. So, what we now know is copper alloy begins to kill pathogens as soon as they touch the surface. When the surface is wet it takes between 45 minutes and two hours to kill 10 million germs and if it is a dry surface, it takes 10 minutes or less.’

How does it work? ‘Copper ions, Cu(I) and Cu(II), penetrate into the cell, where they inhibit its respiration. The copper ions also attack the DNA of the cell and destroy it, so gene transfer is no longer possible. In addition, they attack the cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli, so that it becomes permeable and the membrane potential collapses. What we also found is that there is a chemical reaction called the Fenton reaction, whereby Cu(I) and Cu(II) recycling leads to the production of potent reactive oxygen species such as superoxide and hydroxyl radial: these work even faster than the copper ions themselves. When we think of shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC), such as 0157 or the new 0104 strain involved in the German outbreak, they contain the very toxic stx genes that can be transferred as part of a lambda prophage virus which infects bacteria. We know that copper kills viruses and destroys DNA, including plasmids, so this should stop the transfer of DNA, which would include those toxic genes and also the transfer of antibody resistance from one species to another.’

So, could copper replace good hygiene practice? ‘No, even though copper is a smart material that works 24/7, you still need a normal cleaning practice and good staff hygiene. It just gives you an extra level of protection. It is also budgetfriendly; it costs similar prices to stainless steel. So if people build a new hospital, or plan to renovate their ward completely, they should definitely consider going for copper.’ Professor Keevil will present his findings at the forthcoming WHO International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control, in Geneva on 30 June.

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