Shocking New Public Health Warnings: Harmful Bacteria Covering Ice Served In Drinks

Shocking New Public Health Warnings: Â Harmful Bacteria Covering Ice Served In Drinks

Shocking new health warnings reveal that as many as one-in-three pubs, restaurants and coffee shops in the UK are putting the health of their customers at serious risk by serving dirty ice in drinks.

The latest health study by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) implies that harmful bacteria found on hands that are not being washed properly after staff have visited the toilet have been found on ice, ice machines and utensils from more than 88 establishments which showed a 30 per cent poor lack of hygiene control.

The shocking details of the report have been published which also reveals that the number of people experiencing stomach upsets and complaints have risen by a massive 50 per cent compared to in the 90s, with more than 17 million new cases being reported each year.

“Thirty per cent , 42 samples of ice samples were found to have unsatisfactory levels of Coliform bacteria. Of these, three samples were also found to have unsatisfactory levels of Enterococci and one sample has an unsatisfactory level of Health Protection Agency (HPA).

“Both Enterococci and E.coli can be found in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals and may be an indication of faecal contamination”, said The Health Authority who ran tests across Yorkshire and the West Midlands but warn that the pattern is highly likely to be typical throughout the entire food and drink industry.

“The main way to ensure that ice is fit to use in food and drink it to ensure that it comes from a safe drinking water source and that all machines and utensils or scoops are cleaned thoroughly and regualrly.

“Proprietors should also endure that ice water is fresh and not left to stand in machines or buckets for long periods of time and remember that water becomes stagnant after a while and the same principle applies to ice” added the HPA.