Don't Just Eat It, Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine Is Doubtful About Its Hygiene

Ice cream (Photo: Freepik/Freepik)

JAKARTA - For lovers of sweet foods, soft liver ice cream is certainly familiar. The texture is gentle and the taste of creamy has made it popular since it was first introduced in the 1930s.

In general, soft waves are made from a mixture of milk, cream, and sugar, similar to ordinary ice cream, but the freezing process is carried out directly inside a special machine.

Reporting from the Unilad page, according to an explanation from America's Test Kitchen, the machine stores an ice cream base liquid at temperatures just above freezing.

While the engine is working, this liquid is mixed with air and additional flavors, then processed to reach a temperature of about -3 degC before exiting into soft ice cream which is directly served to the cone or cup.

Although it sounds simple and safe, many people were surprised after seeing the condition of the inside of some soft waves which turned out to be far from clean.

About seven years ago, Inside Edition conducted an investigation into a number of soft serve machines at various stores in New York.

They tested 40 ice cream samples and the results showed eight of them contained high levels of coliform bacteria. Although these bacteria do not always cause disease, their presence suggests that hygiene procedures may not be carried out properly.

The investigation began with a McDonald's employee in Louisiana who shared a photo of the condition inside the ice cream machine where he worked. The machine droplet container looks so dirty, that many people immediately lose their taste.

In response to this, McDonald's stated that the dirty-looking section did not come into contact with the ice cream, and their machines underwent routine cleaning procedures according to standards.

Even so, the videos and the results of the investigation made many people feel hesitant to enjoy the soft wave again. Netizens showed disgust and worry in the comments column.

"I'm so afraid to eat anything after seeing this," wrote the netizen.

"This is the reason why I prefer the ice cream that is censored," commented another netizen.

"The important thing is that it feels good and doesn't make you sick," said another netizen.

"I think I'm starting to stop eating all kinds of things," said another netizen.

In the end, that doesn't mean all soft waves are dirty. But this serves as a reminder that the cleanliness of the food processing machine is very important and don't ignore it. For customers, choosing a trusted place and maintaining vigilance is certainly a wise step.