Is it true that … double-dipping food is unhygienic?
This practice does transmit mouth bacteria, but don’t panic
TL;DR
- Double-dipping means biting food and then returning it to a communal dip.
- Bacteria are transferred from the mouth to the dip, with salsa showing the most contamination in studies.
- The health risk from mouth bacteria is considered low for most people.
- Severely immunocompromised individuals or those recently on antibiotics might have a higher risk.
- Bacteria transfer via hands is a greater concern than mouth bacteria from double-dipping.
- Faecal bacteria, which can cause significant illness, are a greater risk, especially with poor hand hygiene during food preparation.