It may seem incredible, but a simple one school experiment He revealed a surprisingly little known truth: The ice served in many fast food can contain more toilet water bacteria bacteria. To make this discovery was Jasmine Robertsa 12 -year -old girl from Florida, who led A comparative analysis between ice champions And WC water of five restaurants in his area.
The results were far from reassuring: in 70% of casesthe ice proved to be more contaminated of the bathroom water. Some champions even contained E. coli bacteriaa microorganism associated with faecal contamination ea serious intestinal infections.
The paradox? The water of the bathroom, which many tend to consider “dirty” by definition, actually comes from sanitized city sourceswhile the ice, served with ease in the glasses, can be exposed to contamination due to the lack of hygiene in the delivery machines or of the manipulation with dirty hands.
It is essential to rekindle attention on the importance of cleaning in the food sector
According to experts, the discovery should not be panicked, but it is a Useful alarm bell. As Dr. David Katzdoctor and popularizer, what Jasmine highlighted “is not new” in the scientific world, but serves to rekindle the attention On the importance of cleaning in the food sector, above all where the influx of customers is high and work rhythms are frenetic.
The project, originating from the personal curiosity of the girl – who did not bear to see friends chewing the ice – has shown that even a research conducted by a middle school student can have great social repercussions. Jasmine carried on the analysis with a method, supported by a university laboratory and the experience of the older brother, already known for his successes in the scientific fairs.
In light of this investigation, Some fast food chains have decided to review your hygiene practicesdemonstrating how even a simple observation can translate into a concrete change. And the most important lesson remains perhaps precisely this: science, even the one done at school, can improve reality.
