Count
on Geezer to spoil the Superbowl party with an instructive report on
the dangers of communal party dip. The New York Times reported two years ago on a Clemson University study that explored the likelihood that
bacteria would be transferred by double dipping chips
or crackers. Researchers at Clemson
told
volunteers to take a bite of a wheat cracker and dip the cracker for
three seconds into about a
tablespoon of a test dip. They then repeated the process with new
crackers, for a total of either three or six double dips per dip
sample. The team then analyzed the remaining dip and counted the number
of aerobic bacteria in it. On average, they found, three to six double dips transferred about 10,000
bacteria from the eater’s mouth to the remaining dip. Because each
cracker picked up between one and two grams of dip, sporadic double
dipping in a cup of dip would transfer at least 50 to
100 bacteria from one mouth to another with every bite. The bottom
line, says Clemson food microbiologist Prof. Paul L. Dawson, is this:
“Before
you have some dip at a party, look around and ask yourself, would I be
willing to kiss everyone here?” Read more in the New York Times.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Skip the Dip but what do I do with my husband?
Hey Wendy,
Shove the dip in his mouth and use him as the centerpiece for the dip.
If his team loses, take him outside and put the bowl of dip over his head. It’ll add excitement to the gathering and save people from all those dip-ories (calories from dip).