Living dangerously -- the American way

bob, Fla — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:16:48 GMT

Welcome to thew way people think you should make money. This is a problem in all business, when is a lie a lie? it seems a lot of people think it's OK t lie to make a buck. I've been in business for 20 year and make an ok living but if I where to lie like my competitors do I would most likely be retired already. I glade my family had morals but those same morals don't pay the bills when you compete with lies.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Rachel, Jackson, MS — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:41:42 GMT

I don't like lemon wedges in my drink (I just don't like the taste), but restaurants are always putting them in my tea or water anyway. Now it turns out they may be ickier than I thought... It sure would be nice if every restaurant manager in the country read this study, considered the liability angle, and made it a practice to serve the lemons on the side!

Living dangerously -- the American way

Concerned American — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:55:05 GMT

First point, the bacteria comes from the skin of the lemon wedge. I would bet that peeled fruit is fine.

Second point, our low life expectancy is due to high obeisity rate & too many Big Macs. It's not due to lemon wedges & poorly managed meat. There were no illneses reported due to the recalled meat.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Tex, Everett, Washington — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:11:07 GMT

HAHA! Awesome!

I just wish people would believe that corporate greed is responsible for almost every failing in American society. They save money by using illegal aliens, fight initiatives for cleaner air, socialized health care, and global warming all because they want to make money. It's too bad if they keep going they wont live to spend it.

Living dangerously -- the American way

John Doe, Portland, OR — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:11:59 GMT

How about a little cheese with your whine?

Living dangerously -- the American way

allan carter, houston, texas — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:25:07 GMT

Archimedes never ran through the streets of Rome.

Living dangerously -- the American way

john doe, seattle, washington — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:52:34 GMT

most food sold in the supermarket is comtaminted with bacteria or poisonous chemicals.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Angel Garcia , Greensburg,Pa. Angel.2352@hotmail.com — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:20:10 GMT

Hey Docs, Good old Archimedes never walked the strees of Rome...let alone yelling anything. He was a Greek. Nice article,though.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Dan, Des Moines — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:09:07 GMT

How in the... does feces get on lemom wedges?

Living dangerously -- the American way

Jane Doe, Aikenbeck, SC — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:31:37 GMT

Hold the lemon! Except at home!

Living dangerously -- the American way

Angela, Greenville, SC — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 07:38:17 GMT

Great site. Would be even better if you guys offered a "send to friend" link at the end of each article. Thanks!

Living dangerously -- the American way

shelly pinks laporte, IN. — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:24:32 GMT

I am greatful too be informed about the lemon wedges. I will make sure I do not ask for them. Also, I have always felt eating-out has risk. People do not wash there hands enough or apparently not at all...

Living dangerously -- the American way

neddieboy, RI — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:43:35 GMT

This article is implying that the contamination originates in the lemon wedge. That's untrue. The fecal matter ends up on the lemon from the hands of the lemon pickers or the server or bar tender at the restaurant that served it. I think its the latter. Other studies show 40% of people have fecal matter on their hands anyway. So maybe the lemon is cleaner than you are in the first place. Who cares about a few stray bacteria. Unless you live in a plastic bubble, it only makes you stronger. Consider it a vaccine.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Mike, Long Island, NY — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:12:52 GMT

I'm a microbiologist and I have a big problem with this scare article. They don't say how much bacteria is on the lemon wedge. This may come as a surprise, but bacteria (even E. coli) are absolutely everywhere. So to simply say "we found E. coli on lemon wedges" shouldn't get anyone very upset since it's kind of a "no duhh" finding. We ingest millions of bacteria every day with our daily activities, even some that could make us sick. But we don't get sick from them unless there are enough of them all at once to start an infection and/or our immune systems are weakened by stress or disease. It’s called infectious dose and this study doesn’t report it. I'd bet my house that a typical lemon wedge does not have enough bacteria for it to register as a blip on my immune system's radar. - More lemon wedges please, I am not afraid!!

Living dangerously -- the American way

Dave, New York City — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:57:43 GMT

This "study" wouldn't be fit for a high school science project. The fact that they found bacteria on lemon wedges belies the fact that you can find these bacteria absolutely everywhere. There is no increased danger from having lemon wedges in your drink. In fact, the stress caused by worrying about wedges is probably worse than actually eating these wedges.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Gregor Mendel-Woods, Pittsford, NY — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:59:18 GMT

Name one person killed by a lemon wedge-- I can list thousands killed by terrorists. If a piece of fruit was so dangerous then perhaps a giant fruit would have been lobbed at the Twin Towers.

Living dangerously -- the American way

J, London — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:57:45 GMT

I've noticed in some restaurants that the lemons will often have a mildewy taste as well... probably from the practice of storing them for multiple days...
If they were washed externally first, then cut fresh and used immediately, the health risk would diminish drastically.

Living dangerously -- the American way

TO: Angel ; D — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 23:29:18 GMT

It is most famously attributed to the ancient Greek scholar Archimedes; he reportedly said "eureka!" when he stepped into a bath and noticed the water level rose. -- he suddenly understood that the volume of water displaced must be equal to the volume of the part of his body he had submerged. This meant that the volume of irregular objects could be calculated with precision, a previously intractable problem. He is said to have been so eager to share it that he leapt out of his bathtub and ran through the streets of Syracuse naked.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_%28word%29

Though declining slowly by the years, Syracuse maintained the status of capital of the Roman government of Sicily and seat of the praetor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syracuse%2C_Sicily

Living dangerously -- the American way

Jane Doe, Upland California — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:25:49 GMT

Let's panic at everything, PANIC!

Living dangerously -- the American way

Coretta — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:09:02 GMT

Everyone knows that Archimedes ran naked through the streets of Greece. I suspect that the Author must be an Italian trying to steal the thunder of Greece.

Living dangerously -- the American way

istmitime, Memphis, TN — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 14:09:14 GMT

I have seen far too many slimy lemon wedges dying in a bowl to EVER request them. When they put them in my tea or water, I send it back and ask for Sprite No Lemon! Having worked in Retail and the Food industry, I have seen many gross things that make you want to go naked, hungry and live in a bubble!

Living dangerously -- the American way

Danielle,Little Rock,AR — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:32:07 GMT

It is of no surprise to me at all
We are always told we are the GREATEST there ever was.
It is true,we are the greatest at seemingly eating polluted food,eat in dirty cafes,and americas slaughter houses are some of the worst in the western world.
If you want to see clean food stores go to western europe,they make ours look like S---

Living dangerously -- the American way

lynn h colorado springs — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:40:42 GMT

I always assumed the poisons were from other peoples cigarettes especially when leaving the smokefree zones only to meet it halfway out the door

Living dangerously -- the American way

Alan, Philadelphia, Pa. thtredude@hotmail.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:49:55 GMT

To Concerned American, perhaps you can concern yourself with the facts. You may want to check out the link below before spreading the lie that obesity is the cause of all of American's health problems.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22102233/

The research quoted in this article demonstrates that it is more about a sedientary lifestyle than weight. Some of us are born fluffy and still have a life expectancy that aproaches 90.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Jerry Y. Denver, CO — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:53:51 GMT

I thought it was Syracuse not Rome.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Jon, Los Alamos, NM — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:53:04 GMT

This article is hilarious. Bacteria is everywhere. In your mouth, in your intestines, on your skin. It's a fact of life. There is fecal coliform on your toothbrush. So I guess you better stop brushing your teeth. Thankfully our bodies have developed resistance to these "everyday" bacteria. Stop panicking and enjoy your lemon wedge.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Connie — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:19:58 GMT

After working in a restaurant, I can tell you exactly how the crap gets into the lemons. They sit in an ice container on the counter, where anyone and everyone sticks their hands in to grab them out. the garnishes on most soups are done the same way.

@ Tex: I just wish people would believe that corporate greed is responsible for almost every failing in American society.

Corporate greed? You may have a point but I tend to believe that AMERICAN greed backs the corporate greed. Until we stop buying bottom of the barrel made in China crap, then we are the ones to blame, as well as the corporations....

Living dangerously -- the American way

Rod Paille Mt. Carmel IL 62863 — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:07:48 GMT

Why wasn't the questions asked "why is there bacteria on the lemom" and "what about fresh fruits and vegetables on salad bars?"

Living dangerously -- the American way

memyselfand I, OC, CA — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:49:25 GMT

It's on the lemon wedges - and anything else touched by human hands - because nasty people don't wash their hands after using the restroom. When they're food handlers - YUCKY!!

Living dangerously -- the American way

devilkat, Billings, MT — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:09:39 GMT

Only the pathogenic strain of E. coli causes the hemorrhagic diarrhea mentioned. (E. coli O157 H7 if anyone's interested). I agree that fecal contaminants on food is disgusting and that restaurant staff need to learn to wash their hands, but there is bacteria everywhere and on everything. Not all of it is bad; in fact, most of it is non-pathogenic and keeps the really nasty bugs at bay by simply being there.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:14:57 GMT

I remember reading an article where a study was done and they found the same bacteria on most of the ice in the majority of the resturaunts they tested.

Living dangerously -- the American way

J. Whitehead, Nacogdoches, Texas — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:15:50 GMT

Congratulations to the article's attempt to crash lemon consumption; however, its informational credibility is questionable. Comments about Archemedes linked to E. coli lends one to think if the history/ ledgend is incorrect then what about the science? We all should be dropping like flies and I dont think a little feces on your lemon will do it!

Living dangerously -- the American way

Martin Jones — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:33:50 GMT

Credit it to field workers that don't wash their hands after they have taken a dump. Possibly, next to the tree they were picking from.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Green Bay, WI — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:57:44 GMT

I'm no biologist, but she said they found bacteria that CAN be found in fecal matter. I was always told that bacteria in our waste system was replenished by the things we eat. This is all hype & hogwash, a crazy old lady with a fear. If people weren't washing their hands, they'd have found alot more than just a few different kinds of bacteria, I think. You all are so easy to follow the hype that others create, try to think about how we digest food and where bacteria comes from to help digestion.

Living dangerously -- the American way

TP small town MO — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:07:36 GMT

How in the... does feces get on lemom wedges?

by people NOT WASHING THEIR HANDS AFTER USING THE RESTROOM!!!!!!

Living dangerously -- the American way

Sandra Lewis, Rolla, Missouri — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:21:51 GMT

It's easy to fix the "problem" with lemon wedges. FIRST, tell the truth! E. Coli is on everything, it isn't a 'schmear of feces'. It is the E. Coli bacteria that is on doorknobs and faucet handles, and on your kitchen counters. What smart people do in their own homes is wash their hands, wash the fruit, then cut it on a clean board with a washed knife. Then they use it up within a few days. The real fact is that those who eat a healty diet at home of fresh fruits and vegetables will mostly likely have a healthy immune system and will survive eating out occasionally. Sheesh!

Living dangerously -- the American way

Vincent. — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:35:06 GMT

Archimedes was Greek, not Roman. "Schmeared," is not a word in the English language, whereas "smeared" is. Such basic inaccuracies cast suspicion upon the validity of the author's other comments.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Epidemiology Student — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:55:05 GMT

Fecal matter gets on food through improper hand-washing techniques. If a food handler defecates, does not wash their hands well and then goes to cut up lemons, tiny amounts of fecal matter can get onto the food (most food-borne illnesses are transmitted this way). Even if they just touch the peel, the knife can drive the bacteria into the pulp when slicing. That's why you should try to wash all produce, even produce with a peel or rind.

You wouldn't believe how many cases there are of food-borne illness- before I started working with the health department, I never knew how many outbreaks there were on a regular basis that don't make the news. But on the flip side of the coin, the human immune system for the most part is amazing- it can fight off most of the infections we come into contact with. The problem is that not all immune systems are up to the task- as the writer said, the young, old and immunocompromised are at far higher risk than the average person.
I'm not happy to hear about this new possible source of infection, but it's probably not going to keep me from my lemons.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Alan, Junee, NSW, Australia — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:22:57 GMT

Maybe Archimedes got out of his bath and ran through the streets yelling because there were feces in his bath water!!

Living dangerously -- the American way

Frank, Napa. Ca — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:19:18 GMT

Lemons are picked up off of the ground. SOME growers allow animals to eat grass that grows between the lemon trees. Any ?'s

Living dangerously -- the American way

Toby — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:03:55 GMT

So... how many people get sick from lemon wedges each year? Almost all e. coli is traced back to some major outbreak in the meat supply that never should have happened. If this level of bacteria were dangerous, we wouldn't have e. coli outbreaks, we'd have one ongoing epidemic.

Living dangerously -- the American way

AKP, Columbus, OH — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:23:21 GMT

US (and other "advanced" western countries) have the most unhygienic toilet habits.

Firstly, the dry wipe. Have you ever tried to wipe, say peanut butter from your skin with paper? Any idea why baby wipes are moistened? Right. Bidets (and other wet cleaning) is the only way to go.

Secondly, NO ONE WASHES THEIR HANDS AFTER TOILET. Seriously. I have seen this personally at our gym (in an upper class neighborhood). So this is not a class issue.

No wonder we have this stuff spreading around everywhere. Face it, if it is on the lemon wedge, it is on everything on the table.

Why do we have to adopt these crude habits in this day and age of modern plumbing?

Living dangerously -- the American way

afrost@firstam.com — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:54:17 GMT

Just because the fruit isn't necessarily killing people doesn't mean it's not harmful. Contract E Coli, then see how you feel. I literally wanted to die a day or two during my bout.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Are you really shocked by this? — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:22:59 GMT

To Concerned American: Take a food sanitation course. Bacteria can come from any raw exposed food i.e. peeled fruit. So many people don't wash their hands when they should, you can even get bacteria related illness from shaking someones hand. Why is everyone so suprised?

Living dangerously -- the American way

Chaz, Washington, DC — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:50:03 GMT

Archimedes was from Syracuse, which was a GREEK colony on Sicily. He was greek, and Rome hadn't yet expanded to encompass the peninsula yet.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Sean, Houston, TX — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:16:53 GMT

Could someone please tell us where the bacteria comes from, and how much there is? This article is very short on information.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Rebecca North Carolina — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:32:35 GMT

Fecal bacteria is pretty much found anywhere. I watched mythbusters and they did a test about leaving your toothbrush out - does that get fecal bacteria on iT? Well turns out it does.

We've all survived lemon wedges before. Stop listening to the media and live your life.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Janelle, Cleveland, OH — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:31:37 GMT

I think everyone commenting on this article needs to chill out a little and realize that this whole website is rather tongue-in-cheek. I'm sure the author knew that Archimedes was in Syracuse, not Rome, and that fecal bacteria on our lemon wedges doesn't actually mean that we're eating poop.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Gernot Stover, Newton NJ — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:47:11 GMT

Is Oral Sex worse than eating a Lemon?

Living dangerously -- the American way

Margaret, Sequim, WA — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 02:06:00 GMT

Re: AKP
As a nurse, I can only hope that most people DO wash their hands after going to the restroom. The primary cause of spreading disease is by NOT washing hands. I can't imagine why anyone wouldnt' take the few seconds it takes to wash to eliminate the potential cause of spreading infection.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Jennifer, Snellville,GA — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:58:05 GMT

I'm with Gernot...when are they going to do a study on that??? Given that my husband is Asian and believes fully in the bidet...does that decrease my chances dramatically for coming into contact with E-Coli during oral sex?? LOL...lighten up people you come into contact with millions of "potentially" like-taking germs on a daily basis. You don't live in a bubble.

Living dangerously -- the American way

A San Diego, CA food industry employee — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:35:26 GMT

To those asking how fecal matter got on the lemon to begin with: Mexicans... What really happens to your food before it gets to you is not advertised. Most people who work at xx food processing plant will tell you that they would not eat their own product, whether it is Twinkies, meat, or Lemons. A great percentage of food workers are Mexican, and a great percentage of those do not wash after they $#!*. Don’t take my word for it; ask anyone who works with them. I learned at a very young age that they’re filthy people.
Now you can nullify whatever I said because I wasn’t “PC”, but my opinion is based on one thing, and one thing only; what I’ve personally witnesses over the past four decades. It’s very rare that I see a white person not wash after, but Mexicans I have personally witnessed exit the restroom wash just over half the time. Truly unbelievable... They know what they’re doing is wrong, and if they know they’re being watched they will wash, but otherwise 50/50.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Jessica, Las Vegas, NV — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:10:49 GMT

Anyone who wants to read a great book about all the meat and other shit that we put into our bodies read a book called "Skinny Bitch" It will blow your mind and make you want to be vegan and never let you children eat lunch at school

Living dangerously -- the American way

Mo Thomas, Arvada Co. — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:40:36 GMT

I can't believe how many of you missed the point entirely of this article. who cares where Archimedes was from!! If you want to eat lemons after reading this, then help yourself! That doesn't mean the rest of us don't want ot be informed so we can make our own choice. Of course there is fecal bacteria everywhere but does that mean you shouldn't try to limit it? Come on people, grow up!

Living dangerously -- the American way

Rebecca Aberdeen, Scotland — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:45:40 GMT

Actually, Archimedes was born in Syracuse Sicily and he ran through those streets naked, he didnt live in Greece but it was a Greek principality at the time. He was killed by a Roman soldier when they invaded.

Corporate America is greedy and disgusting, I'm glad someone is finally outspoken about it. Its as bad as Russia or China when it comes to the responsibility or care for its citizens. And it is even worse since it has more money. Outrageous that we should have any of these problems!

Living dangerously -- the American way

Jen, AZ — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:49:05 GMT

Actually the feces on the lemon wedge is due to many (unwashed) hands going into the same container constantly touching all the lemon wedges. If the servers would wash their hands, it wouldn't be an issue.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Going back to my life turning up vol. — Fri, 02 May 2008 02:30:28 GMT

I think all of u need to get a life, as of right now iam going back to mine, spent to much of my life reading all the junk u guys have written. For I am sure all of you have sometime or other have taken a dump and didnt wash your hands.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Will I.Deie, Paranoia, ID — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:48:47 GMT

OH ME, OH MY!
The world is full of shit. Get over it.

Why is a doctor authoring an article like this? Seems he never took a microbiology course.

Living dangerously -- the American way

Humankind Survivor -- for a little whilie — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:18:47 GMT

Geez....it's amazing that human kind has survived as long as it has with all the things that will kill us. How did we survive without anti-bacterial anti-microbial hand soap/sanitizers when we were merely "cavemen" and ate uncooked, unwashed food stuffs from the earth? How did we survive without the medications that society now flaunts to be the savior of human kind? I mean, really!!!
We do all these things to prolong life when the truth of the matter is we are all born to die. Maybe that is pretty simplistic -- but the truth of the matter is that without exception every human ever born and that ever will be born will pass away to whatever comes after this life. Maybe it was simplistic, but think about the complexity of the great design. Maybe the Disney people were simplistic -- but the great Circle of Life does and will exist. We try and fail to overcome that -- and hopefully always will. And the media is the great downfall with scare tactics to reach those who fail to take the time to think or are unable to think for themselves.

Living dangerously -- the American way

SL Indiana — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:49:13 GMT

Is the fecal matter found to specifically be human? I was under the impression that the fecal matter found on lemons is not so much caused by people not washing their hands but that lemons grow in trees...birds hang out in trees...birds tend to poop freely. I love how people don't think about these things but instead want to cry like a bunch of third graders about everyone else being dirty non-hand washers.

Living dangerously -- the American way

T, Minneapolis, MN — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:16:40 GMT

OMG, no more comments on where Archimedes is from, I think we get the point. Fecal matter can't be that bad. Hasn't anyone seen two girls one cup???

Living dangerously -- the American way

Jane E. Windsor, — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:18:02 GMT

Not one mention of the nuetrasweet in the coke. I can and do have lemon all the time, never once was sick from it anywhere. One glass of diet soda with that poison in makes me so sick I want to die! look it up, it's poison it's not the lemon. IDIOT DOCTORS

Living dangerously -- the American way

'Mita, Drew, MS — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 05:08:16 GMT

I'm with Rachel on the lemons in the water thing. I've never given it much thought at times about it being in tea, unless there's seeds in the damn thing. As far a folks washing their hands after using the bathroom? I was stationed at a base in MT, and there were a few sections in this building that I work.
And sometimes, there was this woman (not from my section--not many females in mine) who would use the bathroom, and at times to do no. 2, and to my horror, WALKS RIGHT OUT OF THE BATHROOM, without so much as a walk towards the sink! I know this because there are no damp paper towels hanging from the holder form being grabbed at after washing, or the sink is still dry. Sometimes, I'm in there doing my own business, at the same time that she happens to be there/walk in. This is how I know. Now if that isn't just plain nasty, I don't know what is!