Is this disgusting or what?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/01/08/soda.fountain.bacteria/index.html

It doesn't surprise me in the least.  I can't count the number of times I see people leave public restrooms without washing!  Gross!  People, wash your hands!!!

According to the article it's unclear as exactly where the problem comes from.  No question that clean hands are important but how many customers actually touch the machines, don't they hold the cup the press a button? My guess the problem is with the staff doing the cleaning of the spigots dispensing soda or water.  The article did mention wiping rags as a possible cause, makes sense to me.

"There were no reported outbreaks of food-borne illness related in the Roanoke area at the time of the study."

There's fecal bacteria on everything. It's true. Watch Mythbusters.

I hate stuff like this. It's gross, but it's the same as it's been for a long time. Discovering it now doesn't change the fact that we've all been drinking doo-doo for years without any ill-effects.

Dan...I'm going to go ahead and blame my stunted growth on the poo poo bugs..... ;D

I wash my hands before I go to the bathroom. Gotta keep my units clean.

units? plural ?

units? plural ?

Yes.

........ Like twig and berries, you got TWIGS?? :-?

Tell ya what. I worked at McD's and hospital dietary depts through high school and short part of college.

If those machines are not cleaned twice or more a day, and I mean taken apart and scrubbed in sanitizer, they get nasty QUICK. It is a perfect medium for breeding bacteria and mold, dark, wet, and loaded with syrup and/or juice(depending on which type). The hospital in particular was horrendous, I mean absolutely horrendous was a miracle they did not kill someone.

Another disgusting thing is ice dispensers (like at a fast food place, restaurant, or hotel) . I saw a report, and the water lines on these things are gross. there was bacteria, and mold growing in the tubes. I never get ice in drinks when I'm out.

Big Jim, and the Twins.. ;D

units? plural ?

As long as my mt. dew/sweet tea still tastes like mt. dew/sweet tea and I don't get some kind of disease, I don't care what they say is in it! ;D

Seriously though. Like with employees spitting in food, I know this has happened to me once for a fact because I got ticked at the waiter BEFORE he brought my food. And the other day at taco bell I got ticked off because it was slapped together like a 5 year old made it so I got mad and took it back and the "manager" made me a new one and told me when he handed it to me, that he "garuntees this one will be better". Still tasted the same though! ;D

i've never gotten sick off fountain soda  :-/

Exactly why aliens could never conquer us. They could never survive all our germs. LOL.

I guess this means no more fountain soda for me.   :-[