A recent study of both self-serve and staff-operated soda dispensers in Virginia showed nearly half of the machines contained coliform bacteria. BLECCH!
From Smithsonian Food & Think:
Even scarier, most of the bacteria they identified proved resistant to one or more types of antibiotics.
The scientists concluded that such soda fountains “may contribute to episodic gastric distress in the general population,” or more serious consequences for immunocompromised people, revealing a need for better hygiene regulations and enforcement.
The solution, as always, is to drink more beer and wine.
Further Reading:
Serious Eats – Study: Nearly Half of Soda Fountains Contaminated with Bacteria
Food & Think – Bacteria in Beverages: The Good and the Bad
