7th Grade Student Finds Toilet Water Cleaner Than ICE

[CrimsonTide4]

Miss Jasmine Roberts



This is quite alarming to me. And folks wonder why I always stress no ice.


THESE ARE ONLY ARTICLE EXCERPTS
1st Article: http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=25442

Jasmine Roberts, 7th-grade student:
"My hypothesis was that the fast food restaurants’ ice would contain more bacteria that the fast food restaurants’ toilet water."

So Roberts set out to test her hypothesis, selecting five fast food restaurants, within a ten-mile radius of the University of South Florida.

Roberts says at each restaurant she flushed the toilet once, the used sterile gloves to gather samples.



Follow Up Article: http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=25602

Jasmine Roberts, 7th-Grade Student: "When I get ice, sometimes I order ice just to chew on it, and now I know I'm not going to do that anymore just because of the amount of bacteria I found."

Dr. Daniel Lim is a microbiology professor at USF and a mentor to Jasmine Roberts. Dr. Lim says as a scientist, he wasn't surprised the toilet water had less bacteria than the ice.

Dr. Daniel Lim, USF Microbiology Professor:
"And simply the act of flushing may cleanse the toilet of any residual bacteria, most residual bacteria."

But Dr. Lim says ice inside an ice machine could be there awhile.

Dr. Daniel Lim:
"If you don't clean the receptacle, the materials routinely, there may be a possibility of bio-film or residual material remaining in that receptacle."

Jim Griffith, the President of Suncoast Ice Machines, sells leases and services ice machines. He also wonders about the cleanliness of the ice dispensers the student sampled.

Jim Griffith, Suncoast Ice Machines: "How old was that ice and where had it been all the time. Was it manual-fill or was it dispensed out."


UPDATE:
New Tampa 7th grader Jasmine Roberts received first place in a regional science fair for her project. 12-year-old Jasmine compared ice, to toilet water at fast food restaurants, and in most cases, the toilet water was cleaner. Jasmine won $800 for her project.

[Honeykiss1974]

I saw them on GMA yesterday. Both her and her older brother are really into science. Their parents were on their BEAMING with pridee. (I dont' blame them).

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
I saw them on GMA yesterday. Both her and her older brother are really into science. Their parents were on their BEAMING with pridee. (I dont' blame them).

I only found out about it because a co-worker who eats plain ice all day everyday at work told me about.

Coworker: I think I'm going to have to stop eating ice.
Me: REALLY.

LOL, I only use the ice here for my water and today I am drinking it like it has ecoli, ebola, and salmonella on every square inch.

Kudos to Jasmine! I can see her discovering a cure or 2.

[mulattogyrl]

This is gross, but you know, I still don't know if this would make me stop eating ice. Sorry peoples.

[ladylike]

I'm very proud of her. Let the outpouring of scholarship money BEGIN!

[jojapeach]

Congratulations to the young lady! I love seeing girls interested in science.

It's a done deal on chewing ice unless it comes from my freezer. I think I'll have to eliminate ice wherever I go.

But her project is making me wonder about the quality of ice at Starbucks or Barnes and Noble (cafe), where many people luv Frappucinos which are made with ice. I know the water is filtered, and the scoop is washed each day. (I worked in th B&N cafe once upon a time.) But is the ice container really thorough? More importantly, will others turn as paranoid as me?

[CrimsonTide4]

I wonder if she is involved in Delta Academy. I hope so.

[Boom_Quack13]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
I wonder if she is involved in Delta Academy. I hope so.

She would be a perfect candidate for any of te programs implemented under SEE.

[tld221]

Originally posted by mulattogyrl
This is gross, but you know, I still don't know if this would make me stop eating ice. Sorry peoples.

ill be there right along with ya!

[Amaterasu]

Originally posted by ladylike
I'm very proud of her. Let the outpouring of scholarship money BEGIN!

LOL, I was thinking the same thing. And she's only in the 7th grade...let her keep doing science fair projects. A black girl? Shooooo.

[Tickled Pink 2]

Originally posted by mulattogyrl
This is gross, but you know, I still don't know if this would make me stop eating ice. Sorry peoples.

Dang. I LOVE ice. I don't think I'll eat it from restaurants anymore. I wonder how this plays into refrigerators with ice dispensers (yup - I have one)?