Scientists say mouth bacteria from double-dipping rarely causes illness
Experts explain that transferring saliva to communal dips like salsa or hummus usually does not make people sick.
Bacteria transfer in shared dips
A study tested salsa, chocolate sauce and cheese dip for contamination after double-dipping. Researchers found bacteria transferred to all three items, with salsa showing the most contamination. Professor John Tregoning states that mouth bacteria from one person are unlikely to cause illness in others.
Risk factors for vulnerable groups
The risk of infection may be higher for people who are severely immunocompromised or have recently taken antibiotics. Such infections remain rare according to the expert analysis. Most healthy individuals possess stable mouth bacteria that can fight off introduced germs.
Hands pose greater danger
Studies of shared foods like popcorn show cross-contamination occurs more often from fingers than mouths. Faecal bacteria transmitted via hands could cause diarrhoea and vomiting more easily than oral bacteria. Experts suggest people should worry more about hand hygiene than double-dipping habits.
Reported by one outlet
Only one outlet has published this. Nothing here has been checked against a second report, so read it as that outlet's account and follow the link below for the original.
Reported by
1 independent outlet. Headline as published. Links open the original report.