Q&A on the News

Q: I’m concerned by the many restaurant reports showing mold in the ice machine. How can we protect ourselves and be sure we’re not drinking mold? —Betty Stephens, Monroe

A: There aren’t many options for customers looking to avoid ice machine mold in restaurants, as ice is often overlooked during routine cleaning and sanitation procedures, Judy A. Harrison, a professor who specializes in food safety education and methods at the University of Georgia’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences, told Q&A on the News.

“Ice really should be treated as a food, using clean, sanitized equipment and keeping scoops out of the ice so that hands do not contaminate it,” she wrote.

To avoid consuming ice from a moldy machine, Harrison said customers could either order drinks without ice, or they could speak with a manager or person in charge before ordering, and ask them exactly what equipment has been inspected at the restaurant. If an inspection report noted mold in the ice machine, they could then ask the manager or person in charge about the report and what has been done.

While there aren’t many methods for avoiding mold in ice machines, Harrison said the risks of consuming mold are fairly minimal.

“The good news is that most molds are harmless and do not cause illness,” Harrison wrote in an email.