Here's Why You Should Never Add A Lemon Wedge To Your Drinks
Nothing says 'refreshing beverage' like an ice cold mojito with a bright yellow lemon wedge. It sounds appetizing, but what will totally freak you out is the amount of really unappetizing organisms hanging around your drink.
In a recent study, researchers swabbed the insides and outsides of 76 lemons from 21 restaurants collected within 43 visits and found that a whopping 70% of them produced microbial growth. The samples were collected before touching or drinking of the beverage and although the source of this bacteria hasn't been exactly pinpointed, researchers assume that it is due to either the restaurant employee or raw poultry contamination. Delish..
Think about it, a bunch of lemons are sliced up at the beginning of the day and just sit there, most of the time fully exposed to the elements, just waiting to sit in your drink. Philip Tierno, Ph.D., clinical professor of microbiology and pathology at NYU Langone Medical Center, has conducted dozens of similar experiments, which found that half of lemon wedges collected from various restaurants were contaminated with human fecal matter. I don't know about you but I just lost my appetite right now.
Not to worry, luckily we don't live in a bubble and our immune systems can handle it the same way it does when we come into contact with common household bacteria.
But if you're a lemon enthusiast who insists on adding a lemon to your drinks at the bar, try squeezing the juice directly into your beverage of choice instead of having the wedge float there for hours.
Source: The Huffington Post
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