January 5, 2010
Bacteria in Beverages: The Good and the Bad
There have been several stories in the news lately about the dangers of drinking, and we’re not talking about alcohol and durian fruit this time.
Courtesy Flickr user zoomar
Recently, the International Journal of Food Microbiology reported that biologists in Roanoke, Virginia analyzed “microbial populations” in soda and water dispensed from 30 beverage fountain machines (both self-service and staff-operated) in restaurants and cafeterias. They found coliform bacteria in nearly half of the samples, plus other “opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms” (translation: icky stuff). Even scarier, most of the bacteria they identified proved resistant to one or more types of antibiotics.
The scientists concluded that such soda fountains “may contribute to episodic gastric distress in the general population,” or more serious consequences for immunocompromised people, revealing a need for better hygiene regulations and enforcement.
I guess it’s safer to just drink from the tap. Right? Um, maybe not—according to this post on the Atlantic’s food channel, even basic tap water in some locales can pose health risks! Bottled water, then? Looks like that can have contaminants too, and obviously it’s not the most environmentally friendly choice.
So, what’s a water-dependent human to do? Drink more beer, I guess…it might even rehydrate you better after exercise. (Obviously, there are drawbacks to this approach!)
Courtesy Flickr user kaytethinks
Personally, I drink mostly filtered tap water, both at work and at home, and go for tea or bottled juice in take-out situations.
On the other hand, let’s not get too phobic. Some folks actually drink bacteria-laden beverages on purpose!
Ever heard of kombucha? It’s a mix of black and green tea (or sometimes, juice) fermented with bacterial cultures, yeast and sugar. I don’t care for its tangy, slightly carbonated taste, but some of my friends love kombucha and believe it boosts their immune systems. (This Mayo Clinic doctor is skeptical.)
And then there’s “probiotics,” a buzzword of the past few years that refers to the various “friendly bacteria” naturally present in the human gastrointestinal system. They’re advertised in many types of yogurts and yogurt drinks, as well as kefir (a kind of fermented milk), and even some mass-marketed smoothies.
In the end, I think food and beverage safety is like most matters in life—it’s important to be mindful but not obsessive (on an individual consumer level, anyway).
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Great article. It’s good to take a step back and look at issues like this on the whole. I think too many people will see the word bacteria and freak out. I think the majority of our drinking sources are safe for us. In fact, when we try to be too sterile, we end up hurting ourselves (lack of fluoride in water). Nice job Amanda. I think I will pretend that bacteria is everywhere but beer now.
[...] Yowza. I think I have even more reason to smuggle in a bottle of cola next time I go to the movies. [via Smithsonian Food & Think] [...]
[...] Smithsonian Food & Think: Even scarier, most of the bacteria they identified proved resistant to one or more types of [...]
You’ve got it right at the end, Amanda–moderation in all things! But some of this stuff is a little spooky for sure!
[...] Bacteria in Beverages: The Soda Fountain May Make You Sick | Food & Think [...]
[...] Bacteria in Beverages: The Good and the Bad (SMITHSONIAN) [...]
Seems to me Roanoke, Va., may have a problem, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Dallas, San Francisco or Chicago do. I haven’t seen anything on where these 30 soda fountains were, and until I see something a little more specific, I’m going to suspect somebody is crying wolf when all they’ve seen is a shivering chihuahua. Details, people, details! If scary stories are going to be spread about soda fountains in every fast food joint from coast to coast and border to border, they’d better test more than just 30 of them. Further, they need to be specific on where the contaminant is: the syrup, the water, the fixtures, the soft drink cups, the ‘sanitary’ straws, their own unwashed hands?
I am working with a company in Ireland called ellickson International and they have just developed a patented device that will sterilise soda fountains and soda dispense machines after every use. their tests have concluded that this system kills all bacteria found on soda nozzels it is the only process available world wide that willsolve this problem. The system is being launched at the bar and niteclub show in Vegas on the 8th of march.
[...] but as a result of unsanitary conditions at factories or elsewhere along the supply chain.” (Soda fountains, for instance, or slaughterhouses or turkey farms.) Unfortunately, the solution to that problem [...]