With the use of natural stone comes the knowledge that there is a wide pallet of colors and materials from which the kitchen and bath professional or designer can choose to give the customer the look and personality desired. Kitchen countertops: Granite, one of the world’s hardest materials, is the most popular choice for kitchen countertops and other heavily used surfaces. It’s durable, easy to maintain and available

“Overall, there was no statistical difference in reduction after wash and rinse for any of the four surfaces,” said Dr. O. Peter Snyder, Jr., president of the Hospitality Institute. “This indicates that the differences in surfaces used in the tests did not make a significant difference in food safety cleanability. The study, funded by the Marble Institute of America, showed that typical stone countertop materials are easily cleaned to meet FDA guidance for reducing food contact surfaces to a safe level.” The 2006 study is a follow-up to one that Dr. Snyder conducted in 1999. Granite was also named tops in cleanability in that test which involved several other surfacing materials including stainless steel, concrete, tile, wood, and plastic laminate.