Ice Consumers

Consumer Ice Tips!

Ice is good for you, but only if it is crystal clear (not cloudy refrigerator ice), safe quality ice with the IPIA logo on the bag obtainable at your local food, drug and beverage stores. The IPIA logo is your Seal of Approval for a safe, quality ice product.

First and foremost, Ice is a food.

First and foremost, Ice is a food. In fact, people consume more ice, nearly two pounds per person per day, than they do bread.

Water and Ice, the ONLY Difference is Temperature.

In recent national surveys, as high as 85% of all consumers said they were very concerned with the quality of their tap water. This explains the phenomenal growth of the bottled water category. If you don’t trust your tap water, than how can you trust the ‘frozen water’ made in your freezer at home?

Ice can go Bad.

Ice can go Bad. Because it is a food, ice can become contaminated with bacteria and/or viruses that can cause illness. Many people believe mistakenly that because ice is a frozen food product, that it cannot harbor bacteria. This is not true. Ice has been found to contain a wide spectrum of bacteria, from Salmonella and E. Coli to Hepatitis A. Because most people do not think of ice as a source of bacterial contamination, upon illness from a food product, the ice is normally the last and ‘forgotten food’ considered.

Be cognizant when consuming ice of the manufacturing source.

We recommend that you stay away from ice stored in open bins, as in some hotel facilities. As well, as from packaged ice produced in potential unsanitary conditions or with human contact, i.e., ice produced and bagged in the back room of convenience stores. And most importantly, when purchasing packaged ice at your local food store, make sure the bag has the IPIA logo on it, your assurance of a safe product that has been produced under strict manufacturing standards and lab tested.

Taste and Odor.

Do you value the flavor and taste of the beverages you consume? Of course you do. While some consumers realize the ‘cloudy freezer’ ice at home tastes ‘funny’, many do not consider the alternatives for ‘clear, tasteless and odorless ice. Ice made in the home freezer is not only cloudy from water impurities, but also absorbs the odors of the other freezer foods. Only the professional commercial ice producers provide a truly taste-free, clear, and risk-free.

Having a Party?

Follow these guidelines for success:

  • In cocktails, soda or wine, plan for 8 oz. of ice per person. Make sure the dispensing container (ice bucket) is clean and sanitary. Ice is a Food and can harbor bacteria from an un-sanitized container.
  • To cool cans or bottles, 8-10 pounds of ice per case keeps them cold for 6-8 hours
  • To cool a half-barrel of beer, 40-50 pounds of ice keeps it cold for 6-8- hours.
  • For high temperatures and humidity, be sure to get and extra bag or two!
  • When handling ice a clean and sanitized ice scoop should be used. No bare hands please!
  • For Blender drinks, use the recommended amount of ice. Make sure again, that the blender is clean and sanitized and that the ice is not transferred to the blender with bare hands please!
  • For a tailgate party, have lots of ice on hand with separate coolers for the food and the ice. Have enough ice to keep the food properly chilled until you are ready to cook. Keep the drink ice separate too, so that people aren’t using the ice that has been in contact with hands, cans, and other unsanitary items.

Ice has many other uses

Ice Therapy
Place some ice cubes in a plastic bag and wrap with a thin towel before placing it directly on the area to be treated.
Hydration
It’s easier to stay hydrated when your beverages are chilled with quality ice. Or some just simply let the bag of IPIA member ice melt to taste the refreshing clean water.
Bathtub and Swimming Pool
You never know when you’ll need a couple of bags of ice on hand to cool down the pool on a hot summer day or even in emergency situations to chill a body temperature down.
Ice Diet
Yes, there is even a book “the Ice Diet” by Dr. Weiner, a gastroenterologist in New York State. “The more you eat (drink), The more you lose”. You can check it out on www.theicediet.com . We are not endorsing the diet as we haven’t tried it.
Under stress?
Chew some crystal clear IPIA member ice! No, it won’t hurt your teeth, but it sure will taste good and refresh your mind and senses!
Refrigeration
Of course, this one everyone knows. Nothing beats ice to keep your beverages and food cool and preserved for that outing at the beach, park, etc. It doesn’t hurt to keep your storage coolers clean and sanitized as well. Just in case!

Recipes

  • 2 oz rum
  • 1 oz orange juice
  • 2 oz pineapple juice
  • 1 oz crème de coconut

Transfer ice from a bag of wonderful ice produced by an IPIA member to a blender and crush.

Fill cocktail shaker with half the crushed ice and add all ingredients. Shake well and strain into an ice-filled (using other half of crushed ice) Collins glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Yum!

  • 8 cups water divided
  • 6 Lipton regular tea bags
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • Lemon and mint for garnish
  • Clear, taste-free IPIA produced ice

Add 4 cups of water to a medium size saucepan and bring to a rolling boil. Boil the tea bags for about 2-3 minutes. Remove the pot from the hot burner. Steep tea for 10 minutes.

Measure sugar and add to pitcher. Pour the still hot tea over the sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Measure the last four cups of water and pour it into the pot with the tea bags. Swirl the pot around a little bit to allow the tea bags to release that last bit of tea goodness from the tea bags. Pour the tea water into the pitcher. Chill completely before serving and serve over the clear refreshing IPIA produced ice.

The Hammock Sipper
  • 2 oz rum
  • 1 oz orange juice
  • 2 oz pineapple juice
  • 1 oz crème de coconut

Transfer ice from a bag of wonderful ice produced by an IPIA member to a blender and crush.

Fill cocktail shaker with half the crushed ice and add all ingredients. Shake well and strain into an ice-filled (using other half of crushed ice) Collins glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Yum!

Southern Sweet Tea
  • 8 cups water divided
  • 6 Lipton regular tea bags
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • Lemon and mint for garnish
  • Clear, taste-free IPIA produced ice

Add 4 cups of water to a medium size saucepan and bring to a rolling boil. Boil the tea bags for about 2-3 minutes. Remove the pot from the hot burner. Steep tea for 10 minutes.

Measure sugar and add to pitcher. Pour the still hot tea over the sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Measure the last four cups of water and pour it into the pot with the tea bags. Swirl the pot around a little bit to allow the tea bags to release that last bit of tea goodness from the tea bags. Pour the tea water into the pitcher. Chill completely before serving and serve over the clear refreshing IPIA produced ice.