According to a recent study by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), almost half of the ice cubes served in bars and restaurants don’t meet the required EU directive standards on the quality of water used to produce ice recommended for human consumption.

The cause of these findings, the HPA said, was due to poor hygiene when the ice cubes were handled. The random samples were taken from ice buckets and ice machines in various outlets across London and were given a microbiological test for quality.

Testers found that 44 per cent of samples contained coliforms, potentially harmful bacteria found in the gut, while 5 per cent contained E.coli and 10 per cent of the samples contained another infection-causing bug called enterococci.

It’s also bad news for teetotallers, as alcohol is a powerful disinfectant, capable of killing most bugs in the stomach before infection can begin.

Dr Suzanne Surman of the HPA’s Specialist and Reference Microbiology Division said: “Ice cubes have been found to cause outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease in the past and to prevent this from happening again it is important that they meet the required standards.

“The bacteria are useful to show us whether there is the possibility of faecal contamination. The hygiene measures observed when handling ice need to be greatly improved if outbreaks are to be avoided.” Details: www.hpa.org.uk