FOOD NEWS
Why You Should Think Twice Before Drinking Fast Food Soda
By Kimberley Laws
There's no denying that soft drinks play an important role in American society, as the United States is the world's second-largest consumer of soft drinks, right behind Mexico. However, no matter what soda brand you prefer, it turns out that sugar is not the worst thing found in fountain drinks.
A study published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology looked at 90 drinks from "20 self-service and 10 personnel dispensed soda fountains," and found that almost half of these beverages contained coliform bacteria. Coliform bacteria reside in humans and animals, specifically in their digestive tracts, and exit the body via feces.
Study author and professor at Hollins University, Dr. Renee Goddard, explained that a high number of beverages contained levels of bacteria and coliforms that would not be allowed in drinking water. Even your ice cubes are risky, as one UK report found fecal bacteria in ice at several fast food chains.
Additionally, a series of state inspections in Southwest Florida revealed that roughly a dozen eateries in the region had beverage dispensers that contained "slimy mold-like substances." Unfortunately, when employees try to clean them the easiest and quickest way, they may just dump bleach in the pipes to remove the mold — which means you could end up drinking mold residue and bleach.