Restaurant ice cubes dirtier than toilet water

by Rigel Celeste (Subscribe to Rigel Celeste's posts)
Dec 6th 2007 6:32AM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

A recent study in Chicago found that an alarming number of restaurants, more than 1 out of every 5, has more bacteria and fecal matter in their ice cubes than in a random testing of toilet water.

Seriously? I don't even know what to say! But I do feel a little sick.

Apparently the bacteria found wasn't the kind that's necessarily dangerous to the average person, although the potential for illness is definitely there for the very old, the very young, and people with compromised immune systems. But still! How can that be okay with health inspection agencies?

Via Gadling

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Comments (78)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Brian 12-06-2007 @ 8:53AM

In February 2006, high-school student Jasmine Roberts did this same comparison in Florida for a science project.

From this article: http://tinyurl.com/363bux

"I found that 70-percent of the time, the ice from the fast food restaurant's contain more bacteria than the fast food restaurant's toilet water."

JVH 12-06-2007 @ 8:51PM

About the bacteria in the ice, it doesn't get there from the ice. Or from the water. It gets there because someone that has put their hand in the ice bin, without washing. The same bacteria would be on the counter or on your glass. Whatever the employee touches. Some employees just don't care. An employeer puts signs up to wash hands. ect... Hey maybe we should start having our employees wash their hands in the toilet.

Leah 12-06-2007 @ 8:41PM

Mmmmmm...iced poo! What could be better?

shirley 12-12-2007 @ 7:03PM

I agree with Leah.. Poo Cubes that could be different. Lucky Chicago thought of it first he/he... Wow that could be catchy..

dav 12-07-2007 @ 10:04AM

This kind of crap(pardon the pun) exists everywhere. Those least likely to get ill are those most healthy. "Tunguska Blast" may be the answer for you. Look at askabouttheblast.com/4416699 It's the good stuff. Best of Health, dav

MsSalaam1 12-06-2007 @ 9:52PM

'Makes me think of all those soft drinks I get at fast food places.

Kyla 12-07-2007 @ 4:15PM

Actually, the fast food ice is probably marginally safer, coming from a dispenser. It's the ice from hand-scooped machines that's really nasty.

Heather 12-06-2007 @ 9:59PM

I work in a very nice/expensive restaurant and our busboys always reach into the ice and eat a piece one by one (this is after bussing 20 tables and I never see them wash their hands). They also use a scoop that has been placed on the floor to sccop out ice to move from one bin to the other. I mentioned this to management and thank goodness it has been taken care of! However, now I order all of my drinks without ice in them.

Jo 12-06-2007 @ 10:40PM

That's fine if you want to drink a Flushin Russian.
My hope is the alcohol will kill the bacteria. Any research on that?

inotice 12-07-2007 @ 11:08AM

The truth about restaurant you really don't want to know. So just eat and drink, but try not to learn anything.....Know what I mean? Not just ice , everything else is all wrong.......

Vivi 12-06-2007 @ 11:36PM

To Web: One reason I don't have a husband.

dawn 12-07-2007 @ 12:06AM

actually i have worked in the restaurant bizz for a long time....I have seen it all,and if the ice machine in the back isnt completely cleaned at the very least once a month....completely empty and scrubed it grows mold.I am sure in a place with rats,mice,roachs it would be even worse

mike n 12-07-2007 @ 12:14AM

the reason why ice cubes are dirty is that the bucket that is used to carry the ice is first placed on the floor, then it is picked up and off the floor and used to scoop the ice from the ice inside the machine bin. imagine that the bottom of the bucket that was on the floor and now is actually inside the ice bin scraping the sand, soil, hair, and grime onto the ice. the next scoop of ice will scrap the ice along with the grime. the proper way is to keep that bottom of the container from ever contacting the floor. but who am i?

barbara 12-07-2007 @ 1:50PM

yes..seen that done at McDonalds

missy 12-07-2007 @ 12:40AM

well if it were that bad wouldnt we all be sick or dead?

mike 12-07-2007 @ 1:07AM

you want to see something really gross look at the nozzles the soda comes out of in the dispenser the next time you are fillin up your cup with those toilet water cubes

wontdoit 12-07-2007 @ 1:23AM

not only is it restaraunts but think about gas stations and whatnot with coke dispensers they dont have health codes really to follow so next time your thinking about that yummy fountain drink look at the cashier (missing teeth, dirty hands, funky hair) and say do i really want this coke that bad

cheryl 12-07-2007 @ 1:41AM

I work in a bar and got really sick the next day after 2-3 drinks. It def wasn't a hangover. I stopped drinking alcohol completely after that and haven't been sick once. Guess I'm kinda scared to feel that way again. (really sucked) Now I ask for a disposable cup, and the bartender fills my cup, then taps the fizz down with the soda dispenser. Ugg, it drives me nuts!!!! So nasty!!! And now the ice?? Telling her to stop is useless cuz it's a habit for her... Gonna dump it in her purse next time. hehe :)

jim 12-07-2007 @ 6:13AM

the number one source of food borne illness is the lemon we have in our water and/or ice tea. This is side work, cut with dirty knives, on dirty surfaces with dirty hands. Do no drop your lemons in your drink. Squeeze and set to the side.

gina 12-07-2007 @ 8:12AM

I'm a bartender and you are right to say that the "garnishments" in our drinks are full of germs & bacteria. But 99% of the time it's not because the bartender used a dirty knife or cuttingboard. It's because the customers come up to the bar thinking our garnishments are some free buffet. Next time you're out at a bar watch and see how many people help themselves to a cherry or some olives. Yuck!

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