You Should Never Ask For a Slice Of Lemon In Your Drink

[question everything]

There’s something about summer that makes us want to put citrus into every single drink. Beer? A slice of orange. Cuba libra? Lemon. Mojito? Bring on the limes.

We do it because it makes drinks taste fresh, but it’s an indulgence we should consider steering clear of. Why? Because the fruit used tends to be really dirty.

Consider this a reminder of what’s lurking in your citrus. In a 2007 study published in the Journal of Environmental Health, researchers swabbed lemon slices that were put into their drinks at 21 different restaurants. They found that almost 70% of those samples produced some kind of microbial growth, and included 25 different microbial species.

The researchers wrote:

“The microbes found on the lemon samples in our investigation all have the potential to cause infectious diseases at various body sites, although the likelihood was not determined in this study.

“Restaurant patrons should be aware that lemon slices added to beverages may include potentially pathogenic microbes.”

https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/you-should-never-ask-for-a-slice-of-lemon-in-your-drink-170726313.html

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I love lemon! Especailly in my water. I guess will have to skip it.

[yeoman6987]

1. Oh well. Living results in having contact with all kinds of stuff

The bubble suits on their way. You will not die having a dirty lemon.

[JayhawkSD]

10. Indeed. That's why we have immune systems.

This helicopter parenting is bad enough when they are doing it to their kids, but they really need to stop doing it to society as a whole. Let adults live like adults.

[ronnie624]

12. It won't kill you to learn something.

You can still eat dirty lemons, if you want to.

[MADem]

35. The sloppier the house, the fewer allergies children have.

Letting kids play in the dirt is a GOOD thing. It improves their resistance down the line.

And I've got a link to support that view, too!

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/d2n-stopping-germs-12/kids-and-dirt-germs

This line of thinking, called the "hygiene hypothesis," holds that when exposure to parasites, bacteria, and viruses is limited early in life, children face a greater chance of having allergies, asthma, and other autoimmune diseases during adulthood.

In fact, kids with older siblings, who grew up on a farm, or who attended day care early in life seem to show lower rates of allergies.

Just as a baby's brain needs stimulation, input, and interaction to develop normally, the young immune system is strengthened by exposure to everyday germs so that it can learn, adapt, and regulate itself, notes Thom McDade, PhD, associate professor and director of the Laboratory for Human Biology Research at Northwestern University.

Exactly which germs seem to do the trick hasn't yet been confirmed. But new research offers clues.

In a recent study, McDade's team found that children who were exposed to more animal feces and had more cases of diarrhea before age 2 had less incidence of inflammation in the body as they grew into adulthood.

Inflammation has been linked to many chronic adulthood illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's.

[FLPanhandle]

21. +1

I like to keep my immune system from getting bored.

[FrodosPet]

2. Everything in the universe is trying to kill us

Fortunately, most things are not very good at it. But somehow, everything manages to kill someone or something at some time or another.

[madaboutharry]

3. I never let them put lemon in my water.

Another thing people should know is to never touch the door handles in a public restroom. And that includes the door lock on the stall, which people have to touch before they wash their hands. Oh, and a high percentage of people actually don't wash their hands, so use a paper towel or tissue to open the door when leaving the bathroom. Not that I'm a germaphobe.

[MurrayDelph]

39. Back when I still drink diet cola

It was a common practice for the restaurant to put a lemon wedge on the diet soda as a way to tell it apart from the sugared one.

Since I detest the taste of lemon, I always told them to not put it there. If they put it there anyway, I would send it back, as it had already contaminated the taste of the beverage.

It's nice to know there was a good reason for me to do that above just being a picky eater.

[napi21]

4. It's OK. The booze will kill whatever microbes are there. n/t

[pinboy3niner]

5. "Slice of lemon in your Widmere Hef?" "Yes, please."

[msanthrope]

22. I would have stoutly said "No." nt

[SMC22307]

25. It's certainly good for what ales ya. (n/t)

[jmowreader]

41. How can anyone stand to drink hefeweizen?

That shit just tastes evil to me, and I've been subjected to what I was told were Germany's finest weizenbiere. Kleine Pils und Grosse Pils mit Rettich und Salz, bitte schön.

[Initech]

6. Orange in beer? Count me out.

Shit I've been to Belgium and they laugh at us for doing that.

[WhiteTara]

7. Just squeeze out the juice and

discard the rind.

[AwakeAtLast]

37. That's what I do

Plus, doesn't the acid take care of some of that?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

8. Thanks for the heads up.

[rusty quoin]

9. Could it be because the cut lemons sit out all day in let's say a bar?

I always cut fresh lemons for ice tea. Many I know do the same, and never was there a case of food poisoning.

Something I read about sun tea, is that it increases microbe production. I don't know. I drank gallons of that too.

[melman]

15. Yes

Last edited Sat Aug 27, 2016, 06:08 AM - Edit history (1)

and many places will just reuse yesterday's stuff. So who even knows how long some of those lemon/lime slices are sitting there. Plus the bartender doesn't use tongs or anything ,they just reach in and grab it. So their fingers are all over every slice who knows how many times before it gets to you.

[JI7]

11. is the lemon worse than the drink itself ?

[KelleyKramer]

13. And don't crunch (eat) the ice in your drink

The water in ice from any type of retail establishment is the dirtiest water you are ever going to get

Just some friendly advice

[Jim Beard]

14. They probably didn't wash the lemons.

They had to be picked by hand plus being processed on machinery that did not get washed.

It depends where they by the lemons. If from a wholesaler, there is probably little bacteria, listeria and whatever BUT if it is bought at a grocery store, I wash it with soapy. When I finally realized how many people more the produce around, I decided to wash it even if it is what is inside that is being eaten. I even wash cantaloupe before it is sliced open.

[northoftheborder]

29. I always wash lemons and limes at home, and any fruit to be cut into - such as melons.

But I have often wondered if restaurants have washed that lemon or line in my drink.

[smirkymonkey]

16. Oh well. I always have lemon in my water, iced tea, diet coke, etc.

I'm not dead yet. I will continue to take the risk.

[pediatricmedic]

17. I am guessing the 30% that didn't grow were collected by undergrads or interns

Lemons are not sterile and should have various bacteria on them naturally. Washing them and using them fairly soon after being cut minimizes the chance for additional growth.

This silly story is not a reason to give up lemon in your water or other drink.

[RapSoDee]

18. If life gives you a lemon, then

make sure it's a clean one...

[Warren DeMontague]

19. Cave Johnson: "MAKE LIFE TAKE THE LEMONS BACK"

[dembotoz]

20. often wondered...thanks

[KittyWampus]

23. Yes, but wouldn't the acid in the lemon juice help kill those microbes?

And of all the microbes that grew from the sampled swaps…. how many were REALLY dangerous to the average person?

[bigwillq]

24. I always ask for drinks without fruit

Be it water or mixed drinks. Just don't like fruit in my drinks.

[joeyfalconhead90]

38. Same here, except strawberries

I dont like fruits in my water unless is strawberries

[winetourdriver]

26. Lemon

Bottled lemon juice?

[Croney]

27. I hate when I'm served water with lemon that I didn't ask for.

If I wanted weak lemonade I'd have asked for it.

[eppur_se_muova]

31. Sometimes it's to disguise bitter or salty water.

In parts of CA and the Southwest that draw their water from the Colorado, agricultural runoff has made the water salty enough to make the taste unpleasant, without further treatment. Lemon is the usual treatment.

[CrispyQ]

28. Watch an episode of Bar Rescue & a dirty lemon will be the least of your worries. -nt

[KittyWampus]

32. "Dirty Lemon" sounds like an actual cocktail

Lemon flavored vodka with olive brine?

[joeyfalconhead90]

30. i never do that

never drank water with lemon

[dilby]

33. Been drinking with citrus for 41 years I will be fine.

I am sure if those researchers tested every food item in those restaurants and not just lemons they would have a report out urging everyone to stop eating.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

36. And the "mints" at the door are especially filthy

It is not uncommon for people to go to the bathroom during or after a meal, not wash their hands, and then grab a mint on the way out!

I don't care if they're wrapped; I would never touch one!

[sakabatou]

40. Hmm, guess I'll have to use my lemon tree then