The Alarming Ice Cream Shop Red Flag We Just Can't Ignore

The nostalgia of old-fashioned ice cream parlors is hard to resist, whether genuine throwbacks to years gone by or modern versions inspired by the past. Spots filled with huge tubs and metal scoops of fresh ice cream, offering a parade of different flavors and toppings. There's also the aromas of subtly sweet caramelized sugar, fresh dairy, vanilla, and the toasty warmth of house-made waffle cones. 

What if those well-loved scents were missing, replaced by something decidedly unpleasant? That's enough to toss nostalgia right out the window, while also raising serious red flags. We turned to an expert, Brian Labus, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UNLV School of Public Health, to explain why bad smells in an ice cream parlor should be alarming. 

"Bad smells indicate that there is a problem somewhere that needs to be taken care of, but clearly hasn't been," he says. "It could be caused by anything from spoiled or rotting food, dead rodents, to issues with the sewer system. The more complicated the ice cream shop, the more things that can go wrong. A place that is scooping ice cream into cones is going to be very different than one that has a full food menu as well." 

If there's a sulphuric aroma, that's another issue. "Sulphuric smells typically come from sewer gas, and indicate an issue with the plumbing system," he explains. "It could be something as simple as a drain clog or a grease trap that needs to be cleaned out, or it could be something a lot more serious and expensive to repair."

Ice cream is something we love to love, as is the experience of scoop-choosing and the art of layered toppings. But real-life issues can ruin those throwback moments. While some are fairly innocuous, others become too alarming to ignore. That definitely includes unpleasant odors, but we asked Labus about other red flags that might cause him to immediately exit an ice cream shop before even ordering.

"Smells are a big one for me," he says. "If the place smells bad, I am going to go elsewhere. An ice cream parlor should smell sweet. It's part of the charm. I love that smell of the vanilla in the air. If it smells bad, I am heading somewhere else." But he also points to other indications that something is awry and should not be ignored. 

"I also look for the restaurant grades," he notes. "If they don't have a good one, an inspector has found problems that need fixing. While they aren't bad enough to warrant a closure, there is an increased risk of getting sick by eating there." He further explains that if a lot of problems appeared while the inspector was there, when restaurant owners or employees were on their best behavior, "I worry what they are doing after the inspector left." Here's a closer look at what health inspection grades actually mean at restaurants. 

We cover more potential issues in our deeper look at 11 red flags at an ice cream shop that should make you turn around. Other areas of concern addressed on our list include things like ice crystals, scoop hygiene, ingredients, obviously artificial colors, and more.