Well, ABC’s cameras caught employees grabbing lemons with their bare hands without using gloves or even tongs. If they hadn’t washed their hands properly after using the washroom, it’s easy to see how this can be a reality.
Another study included in the Journal of Environmental Health tested 76 lemons from 21 different restaurants. They found that almost 70% of the lemons tested were covered in microbes and other bacteria, including E. coli (which can cause serious diseases and other health concerns). Can you say yuck?
We already know that restaurants aren’t always the cleanest of places. So to avoid coming into contact with nasty germs, always wash your hands right before you eat your meal. And personally, I wouldn’t be ordering water garnished with lemon from a restaurant ever again, either.
Lemon water isn’t the only thing to watch out for — here’s why you should reconsider ordering dessert at restaurants.