The latest survey conducted by The Daily Mail shows that the bacteria numbers in ice offered by over 60% of the UK fast food restaurants are more than that in the water of toilet tank. Fortunately, all the samples were not immediately lead to health problems.
According to Xinhua News Agency, The Daily Mail collected ice samples from restaurant chains in the Hampshire commercial street, and kept them in sterile bag. Then they ask an environmental professional collect the toilet tank water sample from the same shop, and be kept in the refrigerator delivered to Wessex Micro Technology Services Laborator. The Laboratory qualification is recognized by the British government.
Bacteria numbers in the ice seriously overweight
These fast food brands include McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, KFC, red restaurant, Nandos, Pizza Hut, Pizza Express, gourmet burgers kitchen, wagamama Japanese noodle shop, etc.
At 22 degrees C and 37 degrees C, the Pathogens and total bacteria numbers in the ice cake samples from McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, KFC, red restaurant, Nandos bacteria, are all higher than water in the toilet tank.
Caused by dirty ice machine
Experts explain that contaminated ice cake in McDonald's, KFC and Nando's are caused by the "environmental factors", such as dirty ice machine. In other words, fast food workers clean the toilets more frequent than the ice machine. While ice contamination in The Burger King were inferred as "human factors", for example, the staff do not wash their hands carefully.
Bacteria numbers from Starbucks and red restaurant are higher than those in toilet tank water, but still within the health standards.
Ice-making process needs to be examined
Former laboratory head of UK Health Protection Agency Melody • Greenwood said test results reminded some of the fasd food chains should re-examine their own hygiene procedures to ensure that employees operate accordancing with the strict regulations.
After the test results are known, a Burger King spokeswoman said: “We are working with the chain involved in this investigation, and to learn the situation.”
A responsible person of KFC said: "We have the staff retrained in oeder to nip in the bud."
Red restaurant’s spokesman said: "We attach great importance to these issues. And we had immediately reviewed ice making process in this store."
