Posted on 12/04/2008 8:37:36 PM PST by hole_n_one
Hey mom, how clean is that Chuck E. Cheese? The answer is "not very". MomLogic.com conducted a down and dirty investigation with the help of "Dr Germ" himself, famed microbiologist Charles Gerba.
Dr. Gerba went to three locations in California and swabbed a variety of surfaces in the restaurant and arcade areas, such as play mats, trays, chairs, tables, and games. Among the discoveries from the analyses were:
--Serratia Rubidaea, a rare cause of respiratory tract infections, wound and blood infections, found on the Yellow Bus Ride in Pasadena.
--Enterobacter sakazakii, which can cause necrotizing enterocolitis, bacteremia, and infant meningitis, thriving on a table and high chair in Sun Valley.
--Klebsiella pneumoniae, which can cause urinary tract infections, wound and bloodstream infections and pneumonia, clinging to the children's play mats in Sun Valley and Burbank.
"We clean and sanitize our games every night with an antibacterial sanitizing solution called Sterbac Blue. We try to inspect and maintain during the day as well. We have a large amount of kids who come through here, and with them, a large amount of bacteria. We try to keep up with it."
In addition, pediatrician and mother of two Dr. Cara Natterson examined Dr. Gerba's results, and reassuringly said:
"As a mom, these bacteria sound alarming and scary. But as a doctor, I haven't ever seen a serious or life-threatening infection that can be clearly traced back to a kid-friendly restaurant. So take this all with a grain of salt. Personally, I almost never take my kids to these places, so that when I do it is a major treat. And I pretty much stay away during the cold and flu season."
Germs are scared of me. I like it that way. EFG
There must be a lot of people out there who just live to rain on somebody else’s parade. Every time something becomes popular, whether it’s McDonald’s, WalMart, cell phones, SUVs, meat, fast food, Twinkies, or Chuck E. Cheese, there is some vulture trying his darndest to find a reason to condemn it.
The Puritans at least thought they were obeying God. These modern day puritans are just jerks under the label of “concerned citizens”.
Kids may like the place but not me. I went once for my sis’s birthday...Nothing like the smell of dirty diapers, vomit, tomato sauce and cheese.
So, a place where hundreds of kids congregate and interact is rife with bacteria and viruses?
This is not news.
Children are breeding farms for all kinds of bugs and infections. Anyone who has children or had younger siblings in school knows this. (as does anyone who payed attention when they themselves were in school...)
McDonald’s play-land would doubtlessly do just as poorly on a swab test, as would any preschool play area. Essentially any place where children are that isn’t given level 4 decon on an hourly basis would show the same.
What with all those beggars coming to DC and kissing it.....................
Dirt is good for kids. Builds up immunities.
‘Nuf said.
Absolutely the worst pizza I've ever eaten. Not good enough for cattle feed.
I'm convinced that the Grinch got that way because he worked in a Chuck E Cheese as a youth.
“Dirt is good for kids. Builds up immunities.”
So much effort is expended keeping babies ‘sanitary’, and it’s the worst thing to do.
They end up being sickly adults, prone to allergies, colds, etc.
As children we were expected to have all kinds of ‘diseases’ as a child. Worry came about if a child didn’t get mumps, chickenpox, etc.
It is all about building up immunity, as you said.
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