Many individuals are swearing off soft serve ice cream after seeing the condition of the machines that dispense it. If you’re fond of desserts, you might want to look away…
Soft serve ice cream emerged in the 1930s and has been a beloved treat for dessert lovers ever since.
Like traditional ice cream, soft serve is crafted from milk, cream, and sugar, but it undergoes churning and freezing within a specialized machine.
America’s Test Kitchen describes the process: “The churning and freezing process happens inside a specialized machine that holds a reservoir of this ready-to-freeze base just above freezing.”
“As needed, the cold liquid base is automatically mixed with flavor and pumped through a slender cylinder that combines it with air while churning and freezing the mix to about 25 degrees.”
The ice cream is dispensed from the machine, typically via a lever, directly into a cone or tub.
While it sounds simple, many have been unsettled by seeing the inner workings of the process.
Seven years ago, Inside Edition conducted a report on various soft serve ice creams in New York City.
Exploring the cleanliness of soft serve machines, the team tested 40 different ice creams and discovered that eight had elevated levels of a bacteria known as coliform.
Coliform itself isn’t necessarily harmful, but its presence can indicate lapses in sanitation standards.
This investigation followed revelations by a McDonald’s employee in Louisiana who posted images of a grimy drip tray from a soft serve machine.
“This came out of McDonald’s ice cream machine in case y’all were wondering,” noted the employee.
“Nice and dirty.”
In response, McDonald’s issued a statement: “We are committed to running great restaurants that provide our customers with high-quality food, service and a clean environment.”
“This is a part of our soft serve equipment that does not come into contact with any food and is required to undergo regular and timely cleaning.”
Viewers of the investigation were appalled, with one expressing online: “I’ve been watching Inside Edition for a while and now I’m too scared to do anything.”
Another remarked: ”This is why I like scooped ice cream.”
Meanwhile, a third person commented: “As long as it’s good and doesn’t make me sick.”
Lastly, a fourth individual stated: “I’m just not gonna eat anything anymore.”
Comments have been sought from McDonald’s regarding this matter.