Salmonella bugs found in drinks sold at cinemas

FIzzy drinks sold at cinema chains have been found to contain food poisoning bugs including salmonella.

Tests on soft drinks served at Cineworld, Odeon and Vue revealed ‘unacceptable’ bacteria levels.

Two drinks from Odeon contained ‘worrying’ pathogens – with one drink containing 10,000 times the level of bacteria considered to be acceptable, according to tests commissioned by BBC Watchdog Live.

Tony Lewis, head of policy at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said: ‘I’m concerned we’ve got an indicator of hygiene failure and potential breakdown in terms of management of hygiene.’

The programme visited ten branches of each chain, testing the seat fabric, cup holder, a fizzy drink and ice cubes for bacteria. The worst results were found in the drinks, with seven branches having ‘ unacceptable’ levels of bacteria. Many were associated with poor toilet hygiene.

Four of the drinks were seen at Cineworld, with one containing 70 times the acceptable level of bacteria.

Vue supplied just one of the drinks, but its bacteria count was 100 times the acceptable

‘Poor toilet hygiene’

level. The final two came from Odeon, with one containing 10,000 times above what is considered acceptable. Salmonella was also present.

Mr Lewis said: ‘That’s the highest I’ve seen. And that is an indicator of equipment not being kept clean.’ Ice at branches for each chain also had high bacteria levels, and the bug listeria – normally associated with cheese and meat – was found on an Odeon cup holder. Odeon and Cineworld said seats, cup holders and drink dispensers are thoroughly cleaned daily, with ice machines cleaned weekly.

Odeon said it was ‘surprised and disappointed’ and was taking immediate steps to improve hygiene.

Cineworld said the branches tested ‘have all been awarded the maximum Food Hygiene Rating ... by their local authority’ and its cleaning procedures are compulsory. Vue refuted the findings, saying it ‘follows strict hygiene procedures daily’, and its ‘stringent cleaning processes’ are approved by environmental health officers’.

It said it undertakes independent tests regularly, ‘conducted by a qualified clinical microbiologist with nationally recognised accredited training’. Watchdog Live airs on BBC1 at 8pm tonight.