Legal News for Food Poisoning Lawyers. Possible fecal contamination in numerous southwest Virginia fast food restaurants.
E. coli and coliform bacteria found in fountain beverages in several southwest Virginia fast food restaurants.
Roanoke, VA—A study published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology, found that almost half of the fountain beverages tested in a 22-mile area near Roanoke, Virginia, tested positive for coliform, reports CNN News. This allegedly could mean that there is a chance of fecal contamination in these soda machines. It was noted that antibiotic-resistant microbes and E. coli were discovered as well. This study was conducted on 90 beverages taken from 30 fast food restaurants in southern Virginia.
According to information gathered through these studies, it was reported that many samples taken from soda fountains failed to meet drinking-water regulations imposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It was also noted that all drink samples must test negative for E. coli to be considered in adherence with federal regulations.
Sugar soda, diet soda, and water were reportedly taken from both self-service and employee-dispensed soda machines in 30 fast food restaurants. The study confirmed that 48 percent of these beverages had coliform bacteria in them. Eleven percent of beverages allegedly tested positive for E. coli, and another 17 percent contained Chryseobacterium meningosepticum. Within 48 hours of collecting the soda samples, it was reported that the bacteria multiplied and could be seen by the naked eye. The bacteria reportedly resembled 300 to 400 small dots.
Though these findings are disturbing, a professor of food safety emeritus claimed that “it would be premature to draw conclusions about all soda fountains from a localized study” since the study was merely conducted in a 22-mile radius.
Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan- Legal News for Food Poisoning Attorneys.
