Contaminated Ice In Your Cold Drinks Could Be Dangerous— Here’s How To Identify Pure Ice!

As summer intensifies and temperatures soar beyond 40°C, citizens are flocking to juice centers and roadside stalls for refreshing drinks. However, health experts are citing hidden health hazards lurking in these cold beverages, as the ice used in them is inedible, industrial ice made from contaminated water. Residents and ice factory owners claim that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not doing enough to keep a check and take necessary action.

Contaminated Ice In Your Cold Drinks Could Be Dangerous

In order to escape the heat throughout the summer, people swarm to roadside stands and juice centers. But now reports indicate that many vendors are utilizing industrial-grade ice generated from tainted water, which poses major health dangers. The ice used in these drinks is being scrutinized. Every summer, the problem of tainted ice, also referred to as “blue ice,” resurfaces. Research shows that many roadside stands and juice bars unintentionally provide beverages chilled with inedible ice. Due to its affordability and ease of access, this type of ice—usually used for industrial cooling—is handled carelessly by vendors. Industrial ice, in contrast to pure edible ice, may contain hazardous chemicals and ammonia, raising the risk of diarrhea, throat discomfort, stomach infections, and other health issues.

While we often take care of the water we drink, we tend to neglect cold drinks, which have ice brought from various parts of the city and cannot be traced back for purity. It should be noted that just a few days ago, Pune saw a dangerous outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which was linked to impure water. Now, Punekars have been advised to boil the water they ingest, but the ice remains a concern.

There is no clear direction from the FDA regarding production: Owner of an ice factory

Rahul Bappu Ghule, an owner of an ice factory in Nanded, said, “Our factory has a capacity of producing 50 tons of ice, and we transport it across Pune City. The quality of ice produced is good, as we use PMC water. We produce quality ice, which is also being transported to Mumbai and Alibag during monsoons. My only concern is that we produce good quality ice, but there’s competition in the market, and industrial ice is sold at a low price, which is why many street vendors prefer to use that type of ice. There is no clear direction from the FDA regarding production.”

Several dishes using ice are popular among Punekars, but ice gola remains the top choice.

Dr. Ujjwala Keskar, Pediatrics and Child Care specialist at Manipal Hospital in Baner, highlighted that all the ingredients, including ice, sugar, and colors, used to prepare gola are harmful. “The ice contains a variety of germs and disease-causing bacteria, including Escherichia coli and salmonella. There is a rise in cases of typhoid, diarrhea, and jaundice due to the consumption of inedible ice. Ice candies and different cold brews can cause health hazards, especially to kids, as they are high in calories and offer no nutrition. This can lead to unnecessary weight gain and suppress appetite. Standing or walking in the scorching sun is harmful in itself as the body suffers from sudden temperature changes. The quality of ice and sugar cannot be trusted.”

FDA starts inspection drive

Shivkumar Kodgire, acting Joint Commissioner of the FDA, said, “We have released circulars regarding the sale of edible ice and have advised consumers to be cautious. We have directed officials to conduct sudden inspections at various ice factories, and the drive is ongoing. Our field officers have collected samples, which have been sent to laboratories to check the quality. During the summer, we intensify inspections at various juice centers and the vendors selling beverages.”

Just a few days ago, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched an inspection drive in Pune following growing concerns over the use of contaminated ice in beverages and frozen treats.

How to Identify Pure Ice:

Edible ice is typically “pure white” and made from filtered water, whereas non-edible ice is often “blue-tinted” to distinguish it from food-grade ice. However, this distinction is frequently overlooked in many cases.