Fecal Bacteria in Fountain Sodas?
A new study published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology indicates that there might be bacteria linked to fecal matter in your fountain soda.
A team of microbiologists from Hollins University found that 48% of the sodas they tested from fast food soda fountains had coliform bacteria, according to Tom Laskawy, a media and technology professional and blogger for grist.org. Coliform is typically fecal in origin.
The study found that most of the bacteria were resistant to antibiotics.
The team of researchers tested 90 beverages from 30 fountains, and published their findings in the International Journal of Food Microbiology.
Lawasky made sure to note that there has been only one recorded outbreak linked to soda fountains, and that was 10 years ago. But, the bacteria could cause sickness that could go unreported and therefore never linked to soda fountains. For instance, most people who get sick never suspect that the soda they purchased from a fast food restaurant contained harmful bacteria that led to the illness.
The study seems to have a very small sample size, and more should be done to expand the research. Testing 90 beverages from 30 fountains is not sufficient evidence to conclude that 48% of all soda fountains in the U.S contain bacteria that can be traced to fecal matter. However, the small sample size does not mean that I take this study with a grain of salt. Drinking soda is damaging to the human body to begin with, and the information revealed in the study just gives me another reason to stay away from the sugary carbonated beverages.
Sticking to water makes sense. You lose weight and you don’t have to worry about getting sick from random fecal matter making its way into your drink.
Not everyone eats fast food everyday. For example, I eat “fast food” occasionally (no more than once a month). It is frightening to hear that fecal matter is somehow getting into the soda. It would be better to find out the source of the bacteria (did it come from the fountains themselves, or from the ctoaniner, or from the soda itself or from the spigot (have other people been touching the spout, for example). The health department performs a useful service in maintaining the safety of the food supply. It is just plain gross.
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Now the food police take away my last guilty pleasure – serving myself at a fast food place. I saw the actual report and it said that while the employee’s have to wash their hands, the customers don’t have to — that’s where the problem begins. Like mom used to say, wash your hands before eating. It will make me stop going to fast food places. But I wonder what the real risk is. Is it the same as being hijacked by a terrorist on an airline? Or gvtting hit in your car on the expressway? If I had to worry about all the dangers in living I would not get out of bed and then I would be attacked by dust mites. We have to learn to accept a certain level of risk – nothing is totally “safe”, not even mom’s milk.
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