The number of bacteria on ice cubes in Taiwan's chain beverage and coffee shops exceeds the standard by nearly 100 times.

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On a hot summer day, hand beverage shops can be seen everywhere, which has become the most convenient way to relieve summer heat. In order to maintain the hygiene and safety of people's edible drinks, the New Taipei City Health Bureau launched this year's ice (ice) beverage sampling project. By early July, a total of 196 products had been inspected, of which 177 products were in line with the regulations, with a qualified rate of 90.3%. There were 13 unqualified items, including many well-known beverage chains and coffee shops.

The Health Bureau of New Taipei City randomly inspected the shop on Minquan Road in "Coffee blablabla" Xindian District, and the number of bacteria exceeded the standard by nearly 100 times. Picture / taken from Coffee blablabla Facebook

The Health Bureau pointed out that among the 13 unqualified items in the sample inspection, 11 pieces of edible ice cubes, 1 piece of tea and 1 piece of shaved ice were not in conformity with the regulations. The reason for the failure was the number of living bacteria and E. coli group exceeding the standard. The Health Bureau will impose a fine of not less than NT $30, 000 and not more than NT $3 million in violation of Article 17 of the Food Safety and Hygiene Administration Law. Another 6 items were not qualified after initial drawing and have been suspended from business or sale.

The Health Bureau announced that among the 13 unqualified items, the Minquan Road store in "Coffee blablabla" Xindian District exceeded the standard by up to 92 times and 9200 CFU/ml (standard: less than 100 CFU/ml). The "packaged green tea" sold by Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea Zhonghe Global Store (Zhonghe Global Store) had an E. coli count exceeding the standard by 9.3 times and E. coli group 93 MPN/ml (standard: below 10 MPN/ml). "Black Sugar Mammy" Hanson East Road store, Banqiao District, sold "grape milk cheese snowflake ice" Escherichia coli and bacteria exceeded the standard, the number of bacteria was 240000 CFU/ml (standard: less than 100000 CFU/ml), Escherichia coli group 120 MPN/ml (standard: 100 MPN/ml).

The Health Bureau pointed out that the number of bacteria, Escherichia coli and Escherichia coli are the hygienic indicators of ice drinks. exceeding the standard means that the ice drinks are in poor sanitary condition in the production process, which may include unclean places, facilities and equipment.

The Health Bureau announced that six items were unqualified, including three products from two closed stores, "immortal grass milk ice and red bean milk ice" sold by "100 years of handmade bean blossoms" (a section of Xingnan Road, Zhonghe District), and "milk snow ice" sold by "Aegean Ice products" (Xinzhuang District Park Road). Two suspended products, "mung bean smoothie" sold by "COCO" (section of Xingnan Road, Zhonghe District), "edible ice cubes" used in "Fangjiao Stone fresh Juice" (Section 3 of Minsheng Road, Banqiao District), and one closed product, "Milk Snow Ice" sold by "Hewei Food" (Yixing Street, Hsichi District).

The Health Bureau stressed that when buying ice products, care should be taken not to buy frozen or refrigerated products. The freezing temperature of the freezer should be kept below-18 degrees Celsius and the refrigerated temperature should be kept below 7 degrees Celsius. The refrigerated and frozen temperatures should also be kept below 7 degrees Celsius and-18 degrees Celsius to ensure the safety of ice products.

The New Taipei City Health Bureau sampled the "packaged green tea" sold by Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea Zhonghe Huanqiu Store (Zhonghe Global Store), and the number of E. coli exceeded the standard by 9.3 times. Photo / courtesy of New Taipei City Health Bureau

The New Taipei City Health Bureau sampled the practical ice cubes used in Qingyu (Xindian Civil Rights Store), and the number of bacteria exceeded the standard by 19 times. Photo / courtesy of New Taipei City Health Bureau

The Health Bureau of New Taipei City randomly inspected the shop on Hanseng East Road, Banqiao District, "Black Sugar Mammy". The Escherichia coli sold in "grape, milk, cheese and snow ice" exceeded the standard by 1.2 times and the number of bacteria exceeded the standard by 2.4. Photo / courtesy of New Taipei City Health Bureau

The Health Bureau of New Taipei City randomly inspected the shop on Hanseng East Road, Banqiao District, "Black Sugar Mammy". The Escherichia coli sold in "grape, milk, cheese and snow ice" exceeded the standard by 1.2 times and the number of bacteria exceeded the standard by 2.4. Photo / courtesy of New Taipei City Health Bureau