More than half of the samples from the major chains---including Burger King, KFC, and McDonald’s---were contaminated with the bacteria, according to the BBC documentary. The investigation was made after it was revealed that ice from coffee chains like Starbucks also contained fecal bacteria.
The bacteria was also found in the drinking water at the chains.
Out of 10 samples that were obtained from each of the three chains, seven were found to be contaminated from KFC, six were contaminated from Burger King, and three from McDonald’s, the Watchdog report stated. Five of the seven tested at KFC were noted as “severe” in the report.
“And then you also have to look at hygiene failure with potentially the machines themselves: are they being kept clean?”
KFC said it completely shut down the ice machines that were named in the report.
And a McDonald’s spokesperson said: “Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people and we will continue to review our procedures and training, working closely with our restaurant teams to ensure those procedures are adhered to at all times.”
After the tests, Burger King also said that “cleanliness and hygiene are a top priority.”
“This report is an opportunity for us to emphasise our training procedures and ensure all operations and safety standards are upheld in all Burger King® restaurants.”
What a Food Safety Lawyer Won’t Eat
Food safety attorney Bill Marler recently spoke about what foods he won’t consume.What Marler, who has been practicing law for 25 years and owns his own firm, won’t eat might surprise you, as reported by The Associated Press.
- Unpasteurized milk or juice, also called “raw milk” and “raw juice.” “Raw milk directly from a cow can be infected with all types of bacteria,” the lawyer said. “Some argue that milk loses nutrients during pasteurization, but this is patently false. Skipping pasteurization means an increased risk of contamination by bacteria, viruses, and parasites.”
- Raw sprouts. “Raw sprouts are dangerous because of their growing process. The seeds are sprouted in standing water that can grow bacteria. There have been too many outbreaks to not pay attention to the risk of sprout contamination.” Seven outbreaks — four salmonella, two E. coli, one listeria — since 2014 trace back to sprouts, according to the Centers for Disease Control
- Meat that isn’t well done. Marler got his start in the food safety niche working for plaintiffs whose children died in the 1993 Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak. So he has no problem insisting, “Meat needs to be cooked to 160 degrees throughout to kill bacteria that could cause E. coli or salmonella.”
- Pre-cut vegetables
- Pre-cut or pre-washed fruits
- Raw / undercooked eggs
- Raw shellfish
- Uncooked flour