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How often have you had a cola drink or sparkling water in a restaurant with a slice of lemon? That slice of lemon could be carrying a wide range of nasty bacteria, according to a recent study.
Is the lemon slice in your sparkling water safe? This is the question that a New Jersey microbiologist, Anne LaGrange Loving sought to answer after she noticed a waitress with dirty fingernails delivering a drink to the table.
"They put lemon in my Diet Coke, I didn't ask for it, and so I decided to do a study." She said.
Loving is an assistant science professor at Passaic County Community College. After seeing this she decided to conduct a study of lemons being served and the results are less than pleasant -- she found what can best be called nasty bacteria that on 2/3 of the lemons that were served in the 21 restaurants involved in her study.
The drinks were swabbed for bacteria as soon as the drinks hit the table.
"You would think they had dipped the lemons in raw meat," she said, referring to the high levels of bacteria that she found.
The results found everything from high counts of fecal bacteria to a couple of dozen other microorganisms, the majority of which can make you sick. The bacteria were found on the rind and on the flesh of the lemons.
Lemons are to be handled with gloves or tongs. But the healthinspections.com article said that it's common practice for waiters and waitresses to simply pop the little lemon wedge onto a drinking glass with their bare hands.
If this is the case, and an employee's hands aren't clean, then touching the lemons is likely to contaminate them with bacteria.
"People need to know that lemons have bacteria on them that can make them sick." Loving said.
It is also possible that the bacteria were on the lemons prior to arriving at the restaurants and that the lemons are not washed before using.
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YUK!!!!!
I am going to send this by email to several friends and family members.
Heck I might email it to everyone in my address book.
I don't ask for lemom because I don't want lemon in my water.
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I like lemons but only use them at home were I can wash them and my hands, of course.
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I have watched bartenders over and over stick their dirty hands into those little tubs and grab a lemon or lime wedge and squeeze it into a drink, then proceeding to the cash register, ringing up the sale. I always just try to tell myself that the alcohol in the drink will kill the germs! LOL....
Seriously though, this is totally gross and I will be certain to say no garnish on any beverage I order from this day forward.
I always buy a lemon and slice it and put it into my ice water pitcher when entertaining over the holidays, but I use antibacterial soap and wash the crap out of it before doing so.
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Like Pam, this is truly an eye-opener and I will make sure to say nay to any kind of lemon garnish in the future. And I assume lime wedges are in the same boat. The same dirty filthy boat.
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@ Bob Ewing
I like lemons but only use them at home were I can wash them and my hands, of course.
I always wash my citrus fruit before I use it.
I have sent this off to nine people so far and have more to send it to.
A very important report -
I always just try to tell myself that the alcohol in the drink will kill the germs nah, the alcohol just makes you not care. -
@ David Silverberg
Like Pam, this is truly an eye-opener and I will make sure to say nay to any kind of lemon garnish in the future. And I assume lime wedges are in the same boat. The same dirty filthy boat.
limes must be the same, if they are handled the same. -
@ Bob Ewing
nah, the alcohol just makes you not care.
LOL! Yea, my cosmo's won't look quite the same without that cute little curly cue lemon rind floating in there - but, yea, you've got a good point - the alcohol works as "citrus goggles" as well as other things! -
the alcohol works as "citrus goggles" as well as other things! now that is funny, :-) -
I sent this to one of my sons.
This is what he just emailed me in response to this report.
The comment does belong here. My husband always has to have lemon for his water.
Wonder why dad's always sick... -
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
I sent this to one of my sons.
This is what he just emailed me in response to this report.
The comment does belong here. My husband always has to have lemon for his water.
Wonder why dad's always sick...
this certainly belongs here. -
Eww, ewww and ewwww! I rarely get any drinks with lemons but from now on I will make darned sure I don't! Eww!
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EWWWWEEEE!
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I will avoid lemons at bars, thanks for sharing this otherwise we will be like others wouldn't have minded about this.
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@ Chris V. (cgull)
I will avoid lemons at bars, thanks for sharing this otherwise we will be like others wouldn't have minded about this. it certainlyis something to consider. -
I don't go to bars but restaurants, I always ask for water no ice 2 lemons.....extra bacteria, it seems!
Guess lemon chicken will become......hell, I cannot even eat out now! All for the better.....but we only ate out on gift card anyway. Guess I'll stick to vegan dishes! lol.
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Looks like at least some of my family and friends are checking this out.
I have heard from two of them.
I always tell them they need to vote on it if they read it. It's a requirement. LOL
I have a few more to send it to.
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It's not just lemons, etc.
This is the "wash your hands before you eat" scenario.
Bacteria are easily transferred from one place to another.
Essentially, contact with any contaminated source is a potential infection source. Particularly people.
"Clean" human beings carry literal billions of bacteria.The only reason people don't get sick continuously is because some of the bacteria destroy dangerous varieties. Human skin also flakes off and takes bacteria and viruses with it.
Normal washing has some impact on cleanliness, but rarely does more than reduce numbers, and doesn't, ever, eliminate them completely. Even washing in disinfectant is only a temporary solution.
Food preparation areas in public places are supposed to be designed to prevent, or at least limit, contact between food and any unclean source. Those plastic disposable gloves are also supposed to be worn, and changed, regularly.
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@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
Looks like at least some of my family and friends are checking this out.
I have heard from two of them.
I always tell them they need to vote on it if they read it. It's a requirement. LOL
I have a few more to send it to.
thanks. -
Wanderlaugh hit it right on, proper hygienic measures in the workplace will reduce the problems. Anyone handling anything that we ingest should wash their hands frequently and wear gloves during food prep.
It is possible because the lemon slices are being used in drinks, no one is thinking food prep.
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@ Bob Ewing
thanks.
You are welcome Bob.
I see this as a very important report as so many want a slice of lemon in their water that I am out with. -
It brings to the forefront of thought exactly what we are consuming when we blindly trust others....
I'm kind of with pam and the citrus goggles-I think i'll start ordering something stronger than a cosmo, though, to kill off all of thos 'squigglies' (and the mental pictures of backstage butt scratching just prior to serving my lemon wedge and chips!).LOL.
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It brings to the forefront of thought exactly what we are consuming when we blindly trust others....
I'm kind of with pam and the citrus goggles-I think i'll start ordering something stronger than a cosmo, though, to kill off all of those 'squigglies' (and the mental pictures of backstage butt scratching just prior to serving my lemon wedge and chips!).LOL.
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@ Nikki W (karateblossom)
It brings to the forefront of thought exactly what we are consuming when we blindly trust others....
I'm kind of with pam and the citrus goggles-I think i'll start ordering something stronger than a cosmo, though, to kill off all of those 'squigglies' (and the mental pictures of backstage butt scratching just prior to serving my lemon wedge and chips!).LOL.
I worked in a restaurant years and years ago.
One of the cooks had false teeth that didn't fit right.
While she was cooking if her gums started hurting she would take the teeth out and put them in her pocket for awhile.
later she would take them out and put them back in her mouth. -
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
You are welcome Bob.
I see this as a very important report as so many want a slice of lemon in their water that I am out with.
I agree it is a fairly common practice and as KB says it is another example of doing something without even thinking about it. Perhaps if people stopped and realized how intimate eating and drink is, after all food goes in our mouth. -
@ Paul Wallis (Wanderlaugh)
It's not just lemons, etc.
This is the "wash your hands before you eat" scenario.
Bacteria are easily transferred from one place to another.
Essentially, contact with any contaminated source is a potential infection source. Particularly people.
"Clean" human beings carry literal billions of bacteria.The only reason people don't get sick continuously is because some of the bacteria destroy dangerous varieties. Human skin also flakes off and takes bacteria and viruses with it.
Normal washing has some impact on cleanliness, but rarely does more than reduce numbers, and doesn't, ever, eliminate them completely. Even washing in disinfectant is only a temporary solution.
Food preparation areas in public places are supposed to be designed to prevent, or at least limit, contact between food and any unclean source. Those plastic disposable gloves are also supposed to be worn, and changed, regularly.
Agreed. :) -
"later she would take them out and put them back in her mouth."
Oh Cynthia, that's grose! :-6 I'll have a burger, med rare, a wedge of fresh parm, spinach, on a toasted whole wheat bun smothered in SALIVA! ICK!!! And a quad shot of patron (with lemon!).....LOL.
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@ Paul Wallis (Wanderlaugh)
It's not just lemons, etc.
This is the "wash your hands before you eat" scenario.
Bacteria are easily transferred from one place to another.
Essentially, contact with any contaminated source is a potential infection source. Particularly people.
"Clean" human beings carry literal billions of bacteria.The only reason people don't get sick continuously is because some of the bacteria destroy dangerous varieties. Human skin also flakes off and takes bacteria and viruses with it.
Normal washing has some impact on cleanliness, but rarely does more than reduce numbers, and doesn't, ever, eliminate them completely. Even washing in disinfectant is only a temporary solution.
Food preparation areas in public places are supposed to be designed to prevent, or at least limit, contact between food and any unclean source. Those plastic disposable gloves are also supposed to be worn, and changed, regularly.
Yeah, we shed more DNA just breathing, talking and walking around than we know.
@ Theodora L. (Franklin)
Agreed. :)
Welcome back you *grin* -
Amazing we haven't thought of this before. I'm done asking for lemon in my water.
http://TheBigManWalking.blogspot.com
http://www.FreeRice.com-
@ Nikki W (karateblossom)
"later she would take them out and put them back in her mouth."
Oh Cynthia, that's grose! :-6 I'll have a burger, med rare, a wedge of fresh parm, spinach, on a toasted whole wheat bun smothered in SALIVA! ICK!!! And a quad shot of patron (with lemon!).....LOL.
Sorry about that karateblossom. :-)
But here is something to seriously consider that I observed in a restaurant.
I was at a restaurant with some family members. My sister-in-law had been eating something, it might have been one of those biscuits at Red Lobster, and licked all her fingers very carefully. She then reached over and picked up the salt and pepper shakers. I about fell off my chair!! I have never wanted to pick up a salt or pepper shaker in a restaurant since then.
If I have to pass them to anyone I carry a hand sanitizer in my purse and will use it after. -
Yikes! I am a LEMON-LOVER and have hot water and lemon every morning at home. Recently, I have switched from coffee or herbal tea at restaurants to having lemon-water...Wow, what a mistake!
Thanks for a "juicy" article; it has left a "sour" taste in my mouth (no puns intended ;) You can bet I'll be switching back to coffee/tea.
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@ Theodora L. (Franklin)
Agreed. :)
Hey, franklin! Good to see you back on the threads! -
I carry a hand sanitizer in my purse and will use it after. This is a good idea, I rarely eat in a restaurant but the world is a dirty place. -
@ Bob Ewing
This is a good idea, I rarely eat in a restaurant but the world is a dirty place.
I eat in a restaurant at least once a week usually more.
Another thing that irritates me is when a friend or acquaintance enters a restaurant when you are eating and they walk up to your table and want to shake your hand!!!!
One of my daughters has politely refused to shake a person's hand when she is approached like that.
For me out comes the hand sanitizer again. -
@ Nikki W (karateblossom)
It brings to the forefront of thought exactly what we are consuming when we blindly trust others....
I'm kind of with pam and the citrus goggles-I think i'll start ordering something stronger than a cosmo, though, to kill off all of those 'squigglies' (and the mental pictures of backstage butt scratching just prior to serving my lemon wedge and chips!).LOL.
Ewww!
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
I worked in a restaurant years and years ago.
One of the cooks had false teeth that didn't fit right.
While she was cooking if her gums started hurting she would take the teeth out and put them in her pocket for awhile.
later she would take them out and put them back in her mouth.
And double Ewww! -
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
I eat in a restaurant at least once a week usually more.
Another thing that irritates me is when a friend or acquaintance enters a restaurant when you are eating and they walk up to your table and want to shake your hand!!!!
One of my daughters has politely refused to shake a person's hand when she is approached like that.
For me out comes the hand sanitizer again.
People do not realize what is on their hands and what they are pasing on to others. -
@ Bob Ewing
People do not realize what is on their hands and what they are pasing on to others.
I think this does go back to what someone said above, about having blind faith in the restaurants since there are rules and regulations in place for food safety. We assume that our food hasn't been touched by bare hands...but then again...when they set out your drinks and sometimes your silverware/plates, etc. it's usually done with "bare" hands. -
.when they set out your drinks and sometimes your silverware/plates, etc. it's usually done with "bare" hands. an interesting point. -
@ Bob Ewing
an interesting point.
A waitperson should NEVER touch the top of a glass. The glass should always be held below the top.
If you have a straw in your glass remove it before your glass is refilled. If you don't how many other straws have touched the side of the pitcher?
If you use the restroom and you have the sense to wash your hands but do you ever stop to think how many don't? If the handle on the door is on the inside and you open the door with your bare hands how many and what kind of germs are on that handle?
I have become such a germ freak that I try to think of just how germs are transmitted in a restaurant.
There are so many ways that I can't know or do anything about but I still try to do what I can to lessen the danger. -
The glass should always be held below the top.
If you have a straw in your glass remove it before your glass is refilled. If you don't how many other straws have touched the side of the pitcher?
If you use the restroom and you have the sense to wash your hands but do you ever stop to think how many don't? If the handle on the door is on the inside and you open the door with your bare hands how many and what kind of germs are on that handle?
sound advice. -
@ Bob Ewing
sound advice.
Yes...it is! -
This is a comment from my daughter-in-law
Oh now that's gross, thanks for sharing! -
I just saw that a friend has sent this to 7 or 8 people on his email list.
Hey you all if you read it you need to vote it up! :-)
Cynthia
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@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
This is a comment from my daughter-in-law
and the word spreads. -
@ Bob Ewing
and the word spreads.
I believe this is one report that needs to spread. There are many people that I know that always want lemon for their water. None of these people I am sure have been aware of this. -
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
I believe this is one report that needs to spread. There are many people that I know that always want lemon for their water. None of these people I am sure have been aware of this.
i agree -
Bob the comment that will follow this is from a niece of mine.
Laura/Jaguar sent the link to her to this report.
What she writes is more to think about.
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I thought of this. I've worked in lots of restaurants & of course no
one
takes the time to wash the outside of a lemon. Think of from the time
they are
sprayed with insecticide, picked by dirty hands, put in crates,
boxed,
traveled a long ways, put on store shelves, people touching them, the
restaurant
buys them, in another dirty truck & then theres the waitress or salad
bar girl
who just takes them out of the box & slices them with her dirty hands
& puts
them in your drink. I always say no to lemons. I drink sweet tea here
& I hate
it when they forget that I said "NO" to a lemon.
I remember at XXXXXX restaurant in XXXXX when I saw the salad bar
girl
just take the tomatoes right out of the box without washing them to
slice.
Laura, it said on the box that they must be washed first because of
some
chemical
on them from Mexico that may cause cancer. California has some law
against
these chemicals but no one else does. Well, just think of all the
people who
ate those tomato slices.
Going out to eat is not a big treat when you think of how they handle
your
food.
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That is really something to think about, but boy-oh-boy does it make sense!
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take the tomatoes right out of the box without washing them to
slice. My hunch is that this is a very common habit. -
@ Bob Ewing
My hunch is that this is a very common habit.
I am sure that it is.
The restaurant that I Xed out its name and city is a very up scale restaurant here in Michigan. -
@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
I am sure that it is.
The restaurant that I Xed out its name and city is a very up scale restaurant here in Michigan.
I don't think germs know upscale or not! Nor do waitstaff necessarily follow rules. -
Gloves are easy to wear in food prep, they are not expensive; I have two pair in my portable first aid kit, for example. All food service workers should wear them.
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@ Bob Ewing
Gloves are easy to wear in food prep, they are not expensive; I have two pair in my portable first aid kit, for example. All food service workers should wear them.
True. It's just laziness and too many people probably don't think about just how dirty our hands can be...even just after washing them. -
well you do have to toss them away after each use, so maybe they are just ecologically conscious? :-)
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@ Bob Ewing
well you do have to toss them away after each use, so maybe they are just ecologically conscious? :-)
Nah...that'd be too easy! LOLOL! Add a Comment
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Are Lemon Slices Toxic Transmitters?
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