ICE IS FOOD. WHAT’S IN YOUR ICE?

Ingesting contaminated or "bad" ice can cause serious illnesses which can be fatal. We're seeing more news headlines sharing unfortunate accounts of serious incidents involving bad ice served to people by restaurants, coffee shops, hospitals, stadiums, cafes, etc. The rise in consumer awareness around this serious health risk has been accompanied by a wave of scientific studies that have alarmingly confirmed the real danger that pathogens in bad ice can pose to people.

Ice is classified as food and needs similar levels of care as other food products to be safely consumed. Apart from the purity of the water source used, hygiene and cleanliness during preparation, storage and handling of ice is critical to prevent contamination and serious illnesses. Pathogens from ice machines that have molds or slimes on their surfaces, un-sanitized utensils (such as ice scoops, ice buckets, etc) as well as from contact with infected food handlers or other humans can easily spread to ice that is then ingested.