How resistant to bacterial contamination is granite?

If you're concerned about bacterial contamination of your kitchen countertop, it looks like stainless steel and granite are the way to go. That's what a recent study by the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based organization that develops educational materials and research for the retail food industry, shows.

The study measured the bacteria-resistance capacity of six common countertop materials. Each surface was contaminated with E. coli (nearly 2 billion of the microorganisms), washed and rinsed with soap and water and then sanitized with a vinegar-and-water solution. The results are shown in the table below.