[–] Broc_Lia 0 points 37 points 37 points (+37|-0) ago (edited ago)
As much as I hate McDonalds, that's a real shitty article.
Senior lecturer in microbiology at London Metropolitan University Dr Paul Matewele said: ‘We were all surprised how much gut and faecal bacteria there was on the touchscreen machines.
Faecal bacteria are everywhere there's humans. There's some on your phone/keyboard right now, washing doesn't get it all off. I doubt there's any public venue you wouldn't find it if you swabbed the menus.
These cause the kind of infections that people pick up in hospitals.
That's such a broad statement it's ridiculous.
A screen at one branch was found to have staphylococcus, a bacteria that can cause blood poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. Dr Matewele said: ‘Seeing Staphylococcus on these machines is worrying because it is so contagious.
"Staphylococcus includes at least 40 species. Of these, nine have two subspecies, one has three subspecies, and one has four subspecies.[4] Most are harmless and reside normally on the skin and mucous membranes of humans and other organisms."
So another scare-quote from a dindu who either doesn't know what he's talking about, or is only interested in what he's getting paid.
"‘There is a lot of worries at the moment that staphylococcus is becoming resistant to antibiotics. However, it is still really dangerous in places like Africa where it can cause toxic shock.’"
Yes, some staphylococci can become resistant to anti-biotics... in places with large amounts of antibiotics like hospitals. I don't think this is likely to happen in mickey ds.
Bottom line, all of the names he's listing are broad categories of bacteria, not specific species. And while some of the members of those categories can cause illnesses, they have to get to the right place to do it. If our immune systems were so weak that this was a threat we'd have much bigger things to worry about than fast food touchscreens. We'd be in mortal danger just from taking a walk in a park.
[–] Chimaira92 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
You're spot on. I think this article is to induce panic and fear about these touch screen machines that are replacing people who fuck up simple orders and demand $15 minimum wage.
[–] itsALWAYStheBANKERS 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Yeah. Saying that all staphylococcus can cause sepsis is absurd. They CAN cause it but it's a 10*(-)50 probability of it
[–] glassuser 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Yeah this is a crap article. Lol see what I did there? But really, humans and all the things we're around are coated in this stuff. Unless it's sterilized and kept sealed, if we're around it, it has fairly harmless baseline levels of this gunk. And they're blowing it way out of proportion. Yeah I'm sure those screens have gross stuff on them, but this is not particular evidence of it.
[–] lettersofmarque 0 points 51 points 51 points (+51|-0) ago
Lol, touchscreens. What do you think is on the food?
[–] NakedWarrior ago
I went through a McDonald's drive-thru the other day and they had a wheelchair bound guy working, but he was rolling his wheelchair around with his hands, touching the wheels, which touched the dirty floor and then handling people's food. I'm all for hiring handicapped, but how is this sanitary?
[–] Justice_Will_Prevail 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
"... & would you like some Hep A with your order today?" Ack. Gross.
[–] jerkwad152 0 points 8 points 8 points (+8|-0) ago
I'm less surprised by that than the fact that people still eat that horsemeat garbage.
[–] Master_Foo ago
Horse meat actually isn't as bad as people think it is. In Matsuyama Japan, it is a local delicacy. I tried it, it's basically just beef.
[–] noob_tube ago
What's wrong with horse meat?
[–] maaaxheadroom 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Nothing unless the horse was euthanized, in which case it will make you drowsy
[–] ConcreteGaloshes 0 points 7 points 7 points (+7|-0) ago
Agreed.
Wait, using horse meat would be an improvement.
[–] RakerKey ago
yeah I actually shudder to think what the meat is from