What's in the ice that you put in your cup of soda? Sometimes bacteria and sometimes mold. That's not a pleasant thought, but our tests found bacteria in several cups of ice from fast food restaurants and convenience stores in the St. Louis area and a level of bacteria well over the health department's acceptable level for one. Contrary to popular believe, ice doesn't kill bacteria, it just leaves it in something like a state of suspended animation. If there's bacteria in the ice that goes into your drink, as the ice melts, the bacteria comes to life. We also found mold, just like the mold that grows on old cheese or bread, in some of the ice we bought. It usually won't make you sick, but it's a sign that the restaurant or convenience store hasn't cleaned their ice machine recently. It takes mold 7 days to grow to detectable levels.

If the ice in your cup hasn't made you sick in the past, you might not worry about it in the future. But, if the results of our test gross you out, here are some tips from the health department.

1) If the drink is cold when it comes out of the dispenser, skip the ice.
2) Choose a bottled drink.

Remember, if you walk into a convenience store or fast food restaurant and it looks dirty, then it's probably dirty behind the scenes where the ice is made. And, the health department has found that ice machines that make and dispense, all-in-one, are usually cleaner because they're self cleaning.

3 Comments

Alan Endres said:

I like the fact that you did the story, but I find it totally irresponsible that you did not name the places that tested bad!

May 12, 2008 10:20 PM

Kathy Foster said:

Am I the only one getting tired of all the reports on things in my food at places??
I have stopped ordering Lemons and salads, now i guess I have to order hot ice tea. I have eaten out out for more years than i care to say, and, haven't gotten sick, nor has any one else i know.
Please enough of these reports!!!!!

May 12, 2008 10:29 PM

Beth said:

Stop it already!!! Stop these useless reports unless to decide to actually be helpful and say the names of the places!!! You are creating panic for th sake of ratings it seems like. What happened to responsible reporting? I will now offically stop watching your news programs. You guys are turning into the FOX news channel....

May 14, 2008 4:01 PM

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