indiaretailing.com:
The Four Fountains Spa (TFFS) is eyeing the franchisee model to expand its base in Mumbai. The company is a chain of affordable spas and has plans to launch four spas by the end of the year. TFFS has an existing chain of four day spas and one hotel spa in Pune. It has further [...]

Related posts:

1. Core Wellness To Set Up 20 Spas Across India Business Standard: Core Wellness Ltd plans to set up…
2. Johari Digital To Foray Into Retail And Medical Spa Space indiaretailing.com: Medical devices manufacturer Johari Digital Healthcare Ltd is…
3. Jumboking Joins Hands With Franchise India Franchise Wire: Jumboking, which serves more than 50 operational…

PR Web:
FRM Solutions, a leading provider of relationship management solutions for franchisors, announced today a new software application to meet franchisors’ business needs for franchise sales, marketing and advertising, real estate and store development, franchisee administration, and compliance tracking. FRM Solutions is built on the industry’s leading Microsoft Dynamics CRM platform and can be customized [...]

Related posts:

1. Swiss Farms Adopts Microsoft Dynamics AX For Retail As It Prepares For Expansion PR Newswire: Microsoft Corp. www.microsoft.com/ today announced that Swiss…
2. Franchisors Embrace FAST(TM) Scholarship Program Incenting Prospective Franchisees With Accelerated Success Program PR Newswire: Designed to help new franchisees get a…
3. Healthscreen Solutions Partners With Physiomed Genetic Engineering News: Healthscreen Solutions Inc., the leading Canadian…

dBusinessNews Detroit:
Powered by strong marketplace demand for healthy dining options, variety and convenience, Zoup! Fresh Soup Company is a hot commodity in franchising – feeding a hearty base of consumer and entrepreneurial appetites with plans to reach 100 units within five years.
Already the hottest soup spot in Detroit and a regional favorite throughout the [...]

Related posts:

1. Nation’s First Home Energy Audit Franchise Announces Expansion Into Six New Markets Around The Country PR Newswire: Pro Energy Consultants, the nation’s first home…
2. Diners Chow Down On Healthy Helpings MiamiHerald.com: Teri Rios is finding there’s gold in going…
3. Chicago Gourmet Burger Brand Expands QSR magazine: Epic Burger is set to open its…

Klue:
Franchising is so common in the food industry that when one outlet does remotely well, you’d expect them to open another, and another, and soon, a whole chain of them littered in every corner of the country. The most common franchises you can find now are the kopitiam and the mamak/nasi kandar restaurant.
Kayu Nasi Kandar [...]

Related posts:

1. GFC Opens Second Branch Of Iranian Soul Food Chain ‘Naz’ At Zahra Gulf Franchising Company (GFC) opened the second branch of…
2. No Pain, No Gain In The Franchise Phenomenon Irish Times: Franchises have boomed over the past decade,…
3. Diners Chow Down On Healthy Helpings MiamiHerald.com: Teri Rios is finding there’s gold in going…

Soda fountains contained fecal bacteria, study found

(CNN) — It fizzes. It quenches. And it could also contain fecal bacteria.

Nearly half of the 90 beverages from soda fountain machines in one area in Virginia tested positive for coliform bacteria — which could indicate possible fecal contamination, according to a study published in the January issue of International Journal of Food Microbiology.

Researchers also detected antibiotic-resistant microbes and E.coli in the soda samples.

Certainly we come in contact with bacteria all the time, Renee Godard, lead author of the study and professor of biology and environmental studies at Hollins University, a private liberal arts college in Roanoke, Virginia. It’s simply that some bacteria may potentially cause some disease or gastrointestinal distress. One thing we hesitate with is that people get afraid of bacteria. Many of them are benign or helpful, but certainly, I don’t want E.coli in my beverage.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking-water regulations require that all samples test negative for E.coli.

Many of the soda beverages from the dispensers fell below U.S. drinking-water standards, according to the findings.

The large number of beverages and soda fountain machines containing E. coli is still of considerable concern… and suggests that more pathogenic strains of bacteria could persist and thrive in soda fountain machines if introduced, the authors wrote.

Godard and her colleagues acquired 90 beverages of three types, (sugar soda, diet soda, water) from 30 fast food restaurants in a 22-mile area near Roanoke, in southern Virginia. They surveyed beverages from both self-service and employee-dispensed machines and the samples were tested.

There were no reported outbreaks of food-borne illness related in the Roanoke area at the time of the study.

They found that 48 percent of beverages obtained from soda fountains contained coliform bacteria, 11 percent contained E. coli (which are mostly harmless, but some can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia), and 17 percent had Chryseobacterium meningosepticum (which could sicken newborns or adults with weakened immune systems).

Dean Cliver, professor of food safety emeritus at University of California Davis, said it would be premature to draw broad conclusions about all soda fountains from a localized study.

How sanitation regulations are promulgated and enforced in a community are different, Cliver said. Some communities are more on to it than others. How much of a threat it represents? It’s probably limited. Once again, it’s a matter of what regulations are in place, who pays attention and whether it’s being followed.

The samples were contained in petri dishes and the bacteria multiplied within 48 hours, so much so that they became visible to the naked eye as 300 to 400 tiny dots, Godard said.

A Hollins undergraduate microbiology student accidentally discovered that water from a restaurant beverage dispenser contained bacteria while completing a homework assignment. When the results came back, this piqued the interest of faculty and students.

The researchers are uncertain how the bacteria got inside the beverage machines.

It could be from dispensing with a hand that wasn’t clean or using wet rags to wipe down the machine, Godard said. We haven’t done the work to really identify those potential sources and how these bacteria get established.

Manitowoc Foodservice, one of the leading manufacturers of ice and beverage equipment, did not have the opportunity to review the study, but released this statement in response to CNN.com’s questions: We emphasize in our product support material proper methods for and the importance of frequent, thorough cleaning and sanitizing of foodservice equipment. In food equipment as in any environment where microorganisms can occur naturally or be spread by contact, it is essential to follow proven steps for cleaning and sanitizing.

The National Restaurant Association, a business association for the restaurant industry, e-mailed this statement in response to the findings: While the results of this study are disconcerting, we feel that it isn’t representative of our industry and that our guests can safely enjoy beverages from dispensers and single-serve containers alike.

The American Beverage Association made this statement: Fountain beverages are safe. Consumers can rest assured that our industry’s fountain beverages pose no public health risk. The organization, which represents hundreds of beverage producers, distributors, and franchise companies stated that Importantly, our industry meets, and often exceeds, all government health standards in bringing its products to market.

Whether other outbreaks have occurred because of contaminated soda machines is difficult to determine, because food-related illnesses are notoriously challenging to

Soda fountains contained fecal bacteria, study found

(CNN) — It fizzes. It quenches. And it could also contain fecal bacteria.

Nearly half of the 90 beverages from soda fountain machines in one area in Virginia tested positive for coliform bacteria — which could indicate possible fecal contamination, according to a study published in the January issue of International Journal of Food Microbiology.

Researchers also detected antibiotic-resistant microbes and E.coli in the soda samples.

Certainly we come in contact with bacteria all the time, Renee Godard, lead author of the study and professor of biology and environmental studies at Hollins University, a private liberal arts college in Roanoke, Virginia. It’s simply that some bacteria may potentially cause some disease or gastrointestinal distress. One thing we hesitate with is that people get afraid of bacteria. Many of them are benign or helpful, but certainly, I don’t want E.coli in my beverage.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking-water regulations require that all samples test negative for E.coli.

Many of the soda beverages from the dispensers fell below U.S. drinking-water standards, according to the findings.

The large number of beverages and soda fountain machines containing E. coli is still of considerable concern… and suggests that more pathogenic strains of bacteria could persist and thrive in soda fountain machines if introduced, the authors wrote.

Godard and her colleagues acquired 90 beverages of three types, (sugar soda, diet soda, water) from 30 fast food restaurants in a 22-mile area near Roanoke, in southern Virginia. They surveyed beverages from both self-service and employee-dispensed machines and the samples were tested.

There were no reported outbreaks of food-borne illness related in the Roanoke area at the time of the study.

They found that 48 percent of beverages obtained from soda fountains contained coliform bacteria, 11 percent contained E. coli (which are mostly harmless, but some can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia), and 17 percent had Chryseobacterium meningosepticum (which could sicken newborns or adults with weakened immune systems).

Dean Cliver, professor of food safety emeritus at University of California Davis, said it would be premature to draw broad conclusions about all soda fountains from a localized study.

How sanitation regulations are promulgated and enforced in a community are different, Cliver said. Some communities are more on to it than others. How much of a threat it represents? It’s probably limited. Once again, it’s a matter of what regulations are in place, who pays attention and whether it’s being followed.

The samples were contained in petri dishes and the bacteria multiplied within 48 hours, so much so that they became visible to the naked eye as 300 to 400 tiny dots, Godard said.

A Hollins undergraduate microbiology student accidentally discovered that water from a restaurant beverage dispenser contained bacteria while completing a homework assignment. When the results came back, this piqued the interest of faculty and students.

The researchers are uncertain how the bacteria got inside the beverage machines.

It could be from dispensing with a hand that wasn’t clean or using wet rags to wipe down the machine, Godard said. We haven’t done the work to really identify those potential sources and how these bacteria get established.

Manitowoc Foodservice, one of the leading manufacturers of ice and beverage equipment, did not have the opportunity to review the study, but released this statement in response to CNN.com’s questions: We emphasize in our product support material proper methods for and the importance of frequent, thorough cleaning and sanitizing of foodservice equipment. In food equipment as in any environment where microorganisms can occur naturally or be spread by contact, it is essential to follow proven steps for cleaning and sanitizing.

The National Restaurant Association, a business association for the restaurant industry, e-mailed this statement in response to the findings: While the results of this study are disconcerting, we feel that it isn’t representative of our industry and that our guests can safely enjoy beverages from dispensers and single-serve containers alike.

The American Beverage Association made this statement: Fountain beverages are safe. Consumers can rest assured that our industry’s fountain beverages pose no public health risk. The organization, which represents hundreds of beverage producers, distributors, and franchise companies stated that Importantly, our industry meets, and often exceeds, all government health standards in bringing its products to market.

Whether other outbreaks have occurred because of contaminated soda machines is difficult to determine, because food-related illnesses are notoriously challenging to

Bizjournals.com:
Colorado’s Fitness Together Franchise Corp. is expanding its franchise network to a sixth nation, Brazil.
The Highlands Ranch-based personal-training chain said Monday it has awarded a master franchisee agreement to Antonio Cassiano Ximenes of Fortaleza, Brazil, who plans to open as many as 60 Fitness Together studios throughout Brazil over the next five years.
Existing franchise agreements [...]

Related posts:

1. Anytime Fitness Opens 1000th Club PR Newswire: Anytime Fitness, the #1 co-ed fitness club…
2. The Biz Of Beauty In Brazil Reuters: Brazil’s beauty industry is booming on a combination…
3. Healthy Strategy: Lifestyle Fitness Corp. Owner Gets Strategic With Marketing Boston.Bizjournals: The warning signs that the economic landscape was…

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Franchising.com:
At a time when Congress is debating different ways to overhaul the nation’s health care system, two local business owners will use their business backgrounds to create a new remedy for Beaumont’s ailing health care system. Doctors Express, the first national urgent care franchise, will open in Beaumont later this month and redefine the [...]

Related posts:

1. Doctors Express Hopes To Franchise Urgent Care In US USA Today: At his Doctors Express center in Towson,…
2. Roadside Medical Clinic + Lab Offers Franchise And Licensing Opportunities; TeleMedExperts Selected For Healthcare Relationships, Electronic Medical Health Record And Tele-Medicine Technology Business Wire: Roadside Medical Clinic + Lab is pleased…
3. Christian Companion Senior Care Opens First Franchise PR Newswire: Christian Companion Senior Care, the nation’s first…

Seminole Chronicle:
The so-called Neiman Marcus of home health care businesses is up for sale in Altamonte Springs.
The BrightStar franchise office owned by James and Karen Pridemore has officially been on the market for about two weeks with a price tag of $114,000.
It is currently undergoing a two-survey, third-party accreditation process by the Joint Commission as [...]

Related posts:

1. Christian Companion Senior Care Opens First Franchise PR Newswire: Christian Companion Senior Care, the nation’s first…
2. Roadside Medical Clinic + Lab Offers Franchise And Licensing Opportunities; TeleMedExperts Selected For Healthcare Relationships, Electronic Medical Health Record And Tele-Medicine Technology Business Wire: Roadside Medical Clinic + Lab is pleased…
3. PETCO And FETCH! Pet Care Partner To Enhance In-Home Pet Care Options PR Newswire: As summer travel season gets underway, FETCH!…

QSR magazine:
Goel Management, franchisee of 12 Baja Fresh restaurants, Verizon Wireless retail stores, and various real estate holdings, purchased the master franchise rights for Freshii for the entire Philadelphia MSA to open at least 30 new Freshii locations.
“Philadelphia is the fifth-largest media market in the U.S., but has surprisingly few healthy eating options compared [...]

Related posts:

1. Organic Burger Chain Signs Two Multi-Unit Philadelphia Franchises Franchise Wire: Elevation Burger, a Northern Virginia based chain…
2. Dunn Bros. Shifting To Company-Run Store Growth Twin Cities Business Journal: Interest in coffeehouse franchises is…
3. Planet Fitness Makes Plans To Orbit The Pittsburgh Area Pittsburgh Business Times: Planet Fitness, a health club franchise…