By CNN
It fizzes. It quenches. And it could also contain fecal bacteria.
Nearly half of the 90 beverages from soda fountain machines in one area in Virginia tested positive for coliform bacteria — which could indicate possible fecal contamination, according to a study published in the January issue of International Journal of Food Microbiology.
Researchers also detected antibiotic-resistant microbes and E.coli in the soda samples.
“Certainly we come in contact with bacteria all the time,” Renee Godard, lead author of the study and professor of biology and environmental studies at Hollins University, a private liberal arts college in Roanoke, Virginia.
“It’s simply that some bacteria may potentially cause some disease or gastrointestinal distress. One thing we hesitate with is that people get afraid of bacteria. Many of them are benign or helpful, but certainly, I don’t want E.coli in my beverage.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking-water regulations require that all samples test negative for E.coli.
Many of the soda beverages from the dispensers fell below U.S. drinking-water standards, according to the findings.
Godard and her colleagues acquired 90 beverages of three types, (sugar soda, diet soda, water) from 30 fast food restaurants in a 22-mile area near Roanoke, in southern Virginia. They surveyed beverages from both self-service and employee-dispensed machines and the samples were tested.
There were no reported outbreaks of food-borne illness related in the Roanoke area at the time of the study.
They found that 48 percent of beverages obtained from soda fountains contained coliform bacteria, 11 percent contained E. coli (which are mostly harmless, but some can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia), and 17 percent had Chryseobacterium meningosepticum (which could sicken newborns or adults with weakened immune systems).
Dr. Alanna Levine speaks on CBS:
they didnt know this before?
poeple are just not clean.:[
rat fecal matter, rat urnine-SAME DIFFERENCE if you’re ingesting rat bacteria.
Did you actually hear what she said?
This is an issue for people with weak inmune systems! Not for most people.
What a bunch of nonesense this is. Why do you post this COL? Jewish Mothers have plenty to worry about, they don’t need any more trash.
Where the heck did you get the rat poop info?
Did you ever notice how cans are stacked on top of each other , thereby sealing the lid of all but the top cans???
You people just get an email and think it’s from shomaim and emes.
Why don’t you try googling the info before running your mouth off?
For example, you will get this result:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_leptospirosis_coke_can.htm
Hahaha.. Yes, we really need more regulations, please pretty please, more regulations!
Aside from soda being a horrbile thing to put into your body- canned sodas arent much better than fountain. If you dont properly clean the top of the can, you are not oly ingesting human bacteria, but RAT fecal bacteria as well. While the cans are in storage warehouses getting ready to be shipped, they are infested with rats and vermin who roam freely, literally dumping where they please.
So drink water, it’s much safer!
it is very informative…
and #1 you just admitted to the whole world that you give your children soda….(and not just as a shabbos treat)
you should research the negative effects of high fructose corn syrup which is in the soda that you are feeding your children
i did research it and you can trust me its never stepping food in my body again
Very much liked the show. Said alot of very informative things in a very limited amoumt of time! I also liked the part about what they said about preventing the bacteria from getting to you. (dring bottled and caned soda). I never liked the idea of these soda machiens. They give it to you with ice the ice mets and your left with deluted soda. I think Bottled and caned are better. Especially for the kids who dring slow and on their first sip the soda is already watery. Thank you COLLIVE for brining up and causing peoples attention on… Read more »