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Fast-Food Ice Dirtier Than Toilet Water
ABCNews ^ | 3/1/05 | staff

Posted on 03/02/2006 10:35:01 AM PST by XR7

Seventh-Grader's Science Project Turns Up Some Disturbing Results

NEW YORK - Jasmine Roberts never expected her award-winning middle school science project to get so much attention. But the project produced some disturbing results: 70 percent of the time, ice from fast food restaurants was dirtier than toilet water.

The 12-year-old collected ice samples from five restaurants in South Florida -- from both self-serve machines inside the restaurant and from drive-thru windows. She then collected toilet water samples from the same restaurants and tested all of them for bacteria at the University of South Florida.

In several cases, the ice tested positive for E. coli bacteria, which comes from human waste and has been linked to several illness outbreaks across the country.

"These [bacteria] don't belong there," said Dr. David Katz, medical contributor to "Good Morning America." "It's not cause for panic, although it is alarming because what she found is nothing new. You're not more likely to get sick now. But she's done us a favor by sounding the alarm."

Both Roberts and Katz said that the ice is likely dirtier because machines aren't cleaned and people use unwashed hands to scoop ice. Toilet water is also surprisingly bacteria-free, because it comes from sanitized city water supplies.

Support from Big Brother

Roberts got interested in the project after reading a newspaper article about bacteria in airplane water and decided to do something similar. Plus, she said, all of her friends chew on ice, and it drives her crazy.

"I just picked the not-obvious choice," the seventh-grader said of her project.

Her 18-year-old brother, Justus, is also an award-winning science fair veteran who said he has encouraged his little sister's interest in science.

Justus said when Jasmine told him her idea for this project, "I gave her a high five, then said, 'You're a strange little kid.' But I supported her all the way."

The restaurants also have taken notice of Roberts' project. Two began new sanitary policies and have asked her to come back and do her tests again.

"First they appreciated the project," she said. "And one location even asked me to come back and test the temperature of their food."


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bacteria; burgerandfries; burgerking; burgers; cheeseburger; contamination; drinkingwater; ecoli; fastfood; fecalmatter; feces; h2o; ice; mcdonalds; pollution; potable; publichealth; restaurants; toilet; water; waterpollution
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To: JimSEA

I'm wondering if she used the toilet water from the tank of the toilet or the potty bowl for her samples. Big difference...


41 posted on 03/02/2006 11:21:09 AM PST by demkicker (democrats and terrorists are familiar bedfellows)
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To: XR7

After living in Germany for four years, I learned to drink without ice. It's not so bad until summertime.

Reminds me of the Houston TV personality Marvin Zindler:

"Slime in the icebox."


42 posted on 03/02/2006 11:23:27 AM PST by GeorgefromGeorgia
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To: XR7

go for the boiled water and toast


43 posted on 03/02/2006 11:24:17 AM PST by woofie
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To: Uncle Fud
And those who wash their hands thoroughly still have to grab that door handle to exit the restroom.

Or simply use a paper towel to grab the handle. Wouldn't be a problem if all the selfish trash would wash their hands, too.

44 posted on 03/02/2006 11:29:39 AM PST by Diddle E. Squat
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To: XR7

I wonder how careful she was with her sampling techniques?


45 posted on 03/02/2006 11:36:56 AM PST by Retired Chemist
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To: Martins kid

Hopefully before you got your order.


46 posted on 03/02/2006 11:39:42 AM PST by kenth (Phil! Phil Connors! I thought that was you!)
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To: Kenton

Awesome.


47 posted on 03/02/2006 11:41:22 AM PST by BJClinton (Happy Birthday Texas!)
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To: Kenton

ROTFL. God that killed me.


48 posted on 03/02/2006 11:41:28 AM PST by ShadowDancer (No autopsy, no foul.)
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To: XR7

E-Coli. It's always present. We'd never had a positive sample before. Had to do extra tests. None came up positive.


49 posted on 03/02/2006 11:42:04 AM PST by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ("Don't touch that thing")
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To: XR7

I have worked in the food prep and service business.

Ice machines are notoriously unclean. D*mned roach magnets, among other things.


50 posted on 03/02/2006 11:49:56 AM PST by cvq3842
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To: CarrotAndStick

Remote controls in hotels are extremely high in bacteria counts.

Eeeeeewww!


51 posted on 03/02/2006 11:51:09 AM PST by cvq3842
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To: All

Free refills or Pee refills?


52 posted on 03/02/2006 11:59:32 AM PST by flushed with pride
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To: cvq3842
You beat me to it. Think of where all those hands have been that touched the remote.

And do you think those high paid mexican workers who clean the rooms use a different rag to clean the toilet and the doorhandles, remote contol, clock radio.

That is why they "leave the light on for you" so you don't touch the light switch.

53 posted on 03/02/2006 12:00:28 PM PST by cynicalman
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To: CougarGA7; Squantos

You know there ain't no indoor plumbing in Tijeras.


54 posted on 03/02/2006 12:06:46 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: GeorgefromGeorgia

Maaaaaaaaarvin Zindler...... Slime in the ice machine!


55 posted on 03/02/2006 12:12:35 PM PST by D-Chivas
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To: Tijeras_Slim; Squantos
Oh yeah that's right. Forgot you sent me this picture. I still want to know why you went with the Pagoga look.


56 posted on 03/02/2006 12:17:35 PM PST by CougarGA7 (There's no cure for stupid.)
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To: XR7

I wonder if she checked the 7-11 type ice dispensers that work by gravity and thus the ice is never touched.

Although come to think of it yesterday I had a coke from the 7-11 at Fairview ave and Rt. 1&9 in Jersey that reeked of clorox. Totally undrinkable but probably no bacteris.


57 posted on 03/02/2006 12:26:48 PM PST by TalBlack (I WON'T suffer the journalizing or editorializing of people who are afraid of the enemies of freedom)
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To: Kenton

I think you get the award for Funny of the Day.


58 posted on 03/02/2006 3:25:21 PM PST by Free Vulcan (Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none!)
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