Cal Poly Researchers Finds Contamination in Ice Which is Not Produced to Industry Standards
The latest and most comprehensive study to ever look at the safety of packaged ice has been published in California. The study compared packaged ice produced by members of the International Packaged Ice Association to those who manufacture ice without the industry-leading IPIA standards. This study definitively shows that consumers are at risk due to the amount of packaged ice produced by non-IPIA retailers in California that was found to have unsatisfactory levels of contamination.
The California State Polytechnic University study concludes that retailers and consumers need to be aware of what packaged ice they are buying. A total of 156 packaged ice samples were collected from stores in Southern California. Samples of the packaged ice produced on-site at retail locations were collected, analyzed, and compared with packaged ice produced by members of the International Packaged Ice Association (IPIA). IPIA packaged ice is manufactured according to the industry-leading Packaged Ice Quality Control Standards. These standards are the hallmark of all packaged ice quality controls for the industry.
The latest findings from the study conducted by Cal Poly demonstrate troubling findings about the quality of packaged ice produced at many retail locations:
The presence and absence of molds/yeasts colonies were noted and the results showed 56% of the on-site packaged ice samples to be positive for yeasts/molds growth
A staggering 19% of the packaged ice samples produced on-site did not meet the IPIA/PIQCS microbiological limit at 500 total plate counts (TPC) per ml and absence of coliform/E. coli.
Staphylococci (the source of staph infections) were found in 34% of the non-IPIA packaged ice samples, implying most likely contaminations by the packaging workers.
All bags manufactured by the IPIA showed 100% acceptable rates.
UGA Study on Packaged Ice Safety
Researchers from the University of Georgia recently concluded that since millions of pounds of packaged ice are produced by retailers and vending machines, a lot of this ice could put the consumer at risk.
University of Georgia researchers examined the microbiological quality of packaged ice produced and bagged at retail locations—convenience stores, liquor stores, fast-food restaurants and gas stations, plus ice produced at self-serve vending machines—and compared those results with ice produced by manufacturers that comply with the International Packaged Ice Association’s (IPIA) Packaged Ice Quality Control Standards (PIQCS). It is apparent from the study results, as you will see, that sanitary practices in producing and packaging ice are not being followed by many retailers and vending machines.
While researchers found that ice produced under the PIQCS standards was void of harmful bacteria, over 25 percent of the ice samples from retail store producers and self-serve vending machines showed unsatisfactory levels of contamination. According to the report, “Consumers who buy this ice (non-IPIA) should also be educated about the risk they take by purchasing this product and ways they can also prevent cross-contamination in their homes.”
The authors continued, “No coliforms or E. Coli were detected in the ice from manufacturing plants (IPIA) which indicates good sanitary, hygienic practices may have been in place.”
In response to the study, Jane McEwen, IPIA Executive Director stated, “We believe the results of the UGA study are groundbreaking. The study results demonstrate that the quality of the packaged ice produced at retail locations and self-serve vending machines is suspect and, where contamination was found, could indicate a contaminated water source, mold and slime in the ice machine, unsanitized ice scoops, unsanitary packaging process or unhygienic staff handling. We have suspected these unsanitary conditions for a long time and now the study results affirm it.” McEwen continued, “The flip-side of the study shows that ice manufactured to IPIA sanitary standards is clean and safe to consume.”
Highlights of Previous Studies
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