Hidden germs in our snacks

Researchers recently discovered that ice cubes placed in drinks can be teeming with microbes. But what about bar snacks?

We collected samples from six venues and analysed them for enterobacteria, coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli).

While coliforms are mostly harmless, they are found on dirty skin and clothes. Enterobacteria and E. coli are found in faeces and imply food has come into contact with human waste. More harmful microbes, such as hepatitis A or bacteria that cause gastroenteritis, could also be present.

The bars themselves may be blameless - after all, no one can control the cleanliness of customers and their wandering hands ...

The Grosvenor House hotel: salted crisps

Sitting at a table in the bar area of this Park Lane hotel, a friend and I ordered drinks and were given complementary crisps to pick at.

The findings: The crisps were found to be bacteria-free.

Comment: As staff were providing snacks for individual tables, they were only exposed to the people eating them at the time, reducing the chances of contamination. Even if the crisps were exposed to low levels of dirt or human waste, salty foodstuff are a hostile environment for most viruses and bacteria, and they are not likely to thrive.

The Duke of Clarence: mixed nuts

At the Duke of Clarence, in Brompton Road, I bought a bowl of mixed nuts (£1.50) which came out of a sealed jar.

The findings: The lab found 110 enterobacteria and 80 coliforms per gram of nuts. There were no E. coli.

Comment: Enterobacteria show the nuts may have been exposed to faecal matter. These bacteria are generally harmless but some can cause tummy upsets and their presence implies there may be contamination with other bacteria and viruses which may be harmful. Coliforms are a family of bacteria found on many surfaces, in dirt and dust, and their presence shows general contamination from the environment.

The Electric: rice crackers

At this Portobello Road bar I grabbed the remains of a bowl of crackers. They had been left there for everyone to pick at.

The findings: 690 enterobacteria and 290 coliforms per gram were found on the crackers. There were no E. coli.

Comment: The results show the sample had been exposed to environmental contamination and faecal matter. The enterobacteria levels indicate that other bacteria and viruses capable of causing diarrhoea could be present.

Dorchester Bar: mixed nuts and chopped vegetables

Our table had just been vacated and staff left us the mostly untouched bar snacks of the previous occupants - a bowl of mixed nuts and a bowl of chopped fresh vegetables.

The findings: No bacteria were found in the mixed nuts. But the sample of chopped vegetables contained 8,800 enterobacteria, 30,000 coliforms and 20 E. coli per gram.

Comment: Although it may have been due to the unwashed fingers of the people eating them, the vegetables contained worrying levels of bacteria. E. coli as well as enterobacteria indicate possible faecal contamination and show that other microbes capable of causing illness could be present.

The Hush Bar: nuts and crackers

I found a bowl of mixed snacks on the bar of this restaurant near Bond Street.

The findings: There were no E. coli or enterobacteria, but the sample did contain 60 coliforms per gram.

Comment: This sample was free of faecal contamination but the coliforms show they may have been touched with unwashed hands.

192 Restaurant: mixed nuts

At 192, in Notting Hill, a bowl of mixed nuts was placed on the bar.

The findings: These nuts were free of bacterial contamination.

Comment: The nuts looked like they had just been put out, so may have come straight from a packet.