Is the lemon slice in your drink all that good for you?
The slice of lemon that accommodates your soft drinks and makes your cocktails sparkle, at the counter of the café across the street or at the restaurant, almost gives you the illusion of consuming healthier drinks.
Seemingly risk-free, it seems that the lemon slices added to your drinks would host a whole colony of potentially pathogenic organisms... Should you become more suspicious of the slice of citrus fruit in your drink?
According to a study published in the journal 'Journal of Environmental Health' (2016), which tested 76 pieces of lemon zest and flesh collected from 21 different restaurants, it turns out that 70% of the fruits sampled contained no less than 25 different types of microbes.
Even if this citrus fruit is known for its anti-bacterial properties, scientists believe that when they lemons are being handled in the kitchen or at the bar, germs and pathogenic microbes end up on the fruit.
What are the chances that a slice of lemon will make you sick?
Even though the results from this study may seem repulsive, let's not get paranoid. The risks of contracting a disease from a poorly treated lemon slice remain low. Remember that our entire environment contains germs and that it's impossible to avoid the slightest risk. Our immune system is strong enough to fight these little microbes.
This warning is intended more for fragile people who fear germs. As a tip, it's better to squeeze the lemon juice directly into your soda instead of letting the slice float in your glass. Even if this doesn't completely eliminate the germs, it reduces exposure.
In short, keep the usual hygiene rules and go ahead and toast! Cheers!
(MH with JaG - Source: 7sur7 - Illustration picture: Pixabay/Meine Reise)
