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Ice is a food, like other foods, it has the potential to cause food poisoning if it is not manufactured and handled under hygienic conditions.
Everyone serving, handling or manufacturing ice that will be consumed or will come into contact with food, has a responsibility to ensure that the ice is safe, fit for consumption and free of harmful Bacteria.
Everyone serving, handling or manufacturing ice that will be consumed or will come into contact with food, has a responsibility to ensure that the ice is safe, fit for consumption and free of harmful Bacteria.
The Cold Hard Facts
There have been a number of outbreaks associated with ice contaminated by food related pathogens, particularly a virus called Norovirus. An outbreak in the U.S.A. occurred as a result of a sick employee who had not washed his hands, contaminating the ice in ice coolers. Approximately 80 people got sick and a healthy 15 year old boy died from the illness.
In January 2006 the Government Health Department of the State of New South Wales in Australia published and circulated an information sheet, titled “Safety of Ice Machines in Health Care Facilities”. The information sheet was based on the NSW Infection Control Policy. The following is a summary of the contents of that information sheet.
Summary:
Ice machines and ice are frequently used in health care facilities. They can be found in such areas as food services, emergency departments, physiotherapy, maternity units and operating theatres.
Summary:
Ice machines and ice are frequently used in health care facilities. They can be found in such areas as food services, emergency departments, physiotherapy, maternity units and operating theatres.
Ice machines in health care establishments have been implicated in outbreaks of infection and as potential reservoirs of infectious agents.
Ice, if consumed is considered a food, so health care establishments must comply with the Food Act 2003 and the Food Standards Code. For severely immune-compromised patients ice made from potable water may not be suitable and ice may need to be made from sterile water. To avoid contamination, ice intended for human consumption should be separate from ice intended for first aid and storage of medical solutions, pharmaceuticals and clinical specimen transportation.
Microbiological testing of ice, bins, machinery and dispensers is generally only indicated during outbreak investigations. The information sheet provides further advice regarding things to remember when handling ice as well as cleaning and maintenance of ice machines and storage bins.
Original Document can be viewed at http://www.sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au/albionstcentre/documents/pdfdocs/Ice_Machines.pdf
Ice, if consumed is considered a food, so health care establishments must comply with the Food Act 2003 and the Food Standards Code. For severely immune-
Original Document can be viewed at http://www.sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au/albionstcentre/documents/pdfdocs/Ice_Machines.pdf