Thirsty Thursday: Ice and Fruit

After a big St Louis Stanley Cup win, I'm pretty sure the drinks will be flowing in celebration...

But is your favorite drink a food safety hazard?

I know you're thinking, That Food Safety Guy!?! Why are you trying to put a damper on my drinks! Not to be the party pooper, but there are things you need to watch out for! The two biggest risks when it comes to drinks are Ice and Fruit Garnishes.
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Long before I even got into world of Food Safety, I had a run in after a night out with friends. We were at a local hot spot, having cocktails and playing pool. A few days later we got word an employee was diagnosed with hepatitis B and if you ate or had drank any drinks using Ice, you needed to make sure you HepB vaccination was up to date. 

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Ice?! Really?! I had to worry about ICE?!

​Yep!

​Ice.

Unwashed bartender hands can transfer this while scooping ice and cutting lemons and other citrus.

​As with most "transmissions of disease" incidents, someone ignored all of the basic hygiene things their mama taught them when they were young. Either they didn't wash their hands appropriately or coughed or sneezed without covering their mouth and thus put others at risk. 

​If ice is made from contaminated water, it can release dangerous pathogens into your drink as it begins to melt. What's more, ice can pick up pathogens from uncleaned equipment, hands or ice scoops. A study in the US found that between 67% and 83% of the ice cubes that were sampled in restaurants carried bacteria or fungi on them

​Its common practice when travelling overseas to developing countries that you should avoid drinks with ice. Preferably, you would order a canned or bottled drink. Don't be fooled that the risk is just overseas. As I said above... it can happen here in the US. In 1987, 5000 people contracted norovirus linked back to ice served at a University of Pennsylvania-Cornell University football game in Philadelphia. Within 48 hours, 158 students with symptoms of gastrointestinal illness visited the university health service... and the numbers grew. ​

Who doesn't love a fresh fruit smoothie or a cocktail made with fresh fruit?

Fruit in drinks can also cause food poisoning. Bacteria can easily be transferred from knives and cutting boards to the fruit. Unwashed fruit can harbor bacteria. Cutting into fruit that has a skin, such as melons, can transfer bacteria from the outside to the inside of the fruit. Despite the acidity of lemons and limes (bacteria grow best in neutral acidity environments), bacteria can easily be transferred from one place to another on slices of these fruits. ​

Related
​That Food Safety Guy
CBS News Affiliate Pieces

1. Is a Restaurant Ice Really Clean? 
2. Are Your Lemons Clean?
3. How to Clean Your Fruits & Vegetables the Right Way!

Does that mean you need to start ordering your drinks without ice or fruit garnish?! Not necessarily. Watch your bar and wait staff when out. Review the establishments social media reviews and Health Dept reports. At home, make sure you clean the fruits, equipment, cups, and utensils. Don’t forget to wash your hands. Use fresh clean water for your ice. Chill your fruits once you have them cut. Enjoy!

Looking for a cocktail to Celebrate the Blues win?
Try a Blue Note:
​1.5oz 360 Vodka St. Louis Blues (preferred)
1oz Blue Curacao
1 oz Pineapple juice
1oz Sweet and sour mix
Top with Sprite.
Garnish with a lemon and pineapple wedge and a cherry.

#LGB!!

360 Limited Edition NHL Blues Vodka. Find out where to find it near you!

Slainte’
That Food Safety Guy,  James