January 30, 2008
Science Proves Costanza Wrong on Double Dipping
A study to be published later this year in the Journal of Food Safety proves that George Costanza’s cavalier method of double dipping his chip is, in fact, “like putting your whole mouth right in the dip.” For those who may have missed the Seinfeld episode or somehow not seen it reenacted at every party serving dip since it aired in 1993, we’ve posted the scene below. Suffice it to say that Costanza’s preferred dipping style involves dipping his chip in dip, taking a bite, and then going back for more dip with the half-eaten chip.
Food microbiologist Prof. Paul L. Dawson ran some double dip tests with his students and has some advice for the next soiree you attend: “Before you have some dip at a party, look around and ask yourself, would I be willing to kiss everyone here? Because you don’t know who might be double dipping, and those who do are sharing their saliva with you.” The Times parsed the study:
On average, the students found that three to six double dips transferred about 10,000 bacteria from the eater’s mouth to the remaining dip. Each cracker picked up between one and two grams of dip. That means that sporadic double dipping in a cup of dip would transfer at least 50 to 100 bacteria from one mouth to another with every bite.Timmy wasn’t paranoid after all. And you’re safer with a thick dip than a watery salsa because less bacteria comes off a chip double dipped in thick dip. Of course, Dr. Dawson’s study didn’t determine whether any of the bacteria were harmful, but still, kissing Costanza?
Elsewhere in the world of dip, a Los Angeles woman filed a lawsuit against Kraft in November '06 because the company's Kraft Dips Guacamole contains a disproportionally small amount of avocado – just 2%. Her suit, still pending, prompted Kraft to change the product's label to Guacamole "Flavor".
|
We should just sterilize people at birth and then wrap them in a germ-proof casing for life. Actually, I'm sure some people would still be afraid. Germophobia really is a silly neurosis.
Snap your chips in half first. Problem solved.
It's nice that scientists have time to do this kind of thing now that they've cured all the diseases and come up with a way to solve the energy crisis.
How about dipping using the other side of the chip?
Just use your finger and spread it on the chip! You'll make more friends this way too after they see how cool a technique you have.
re: double dipping & bacteria... that's why god invented alcohol
jibbly, that's a good question! And note for hosts offering dip: Have plates, so guests can scoop up their own portions.
JMH, he's a "food microbiologist." i don't think he's going to be working on any genome projects or AIDS cures in the near future.
get in there early before it gets contaminated
yeah, I'm one for turning my dipper (celery or carrot) around to dip in a clean end.
Too true Tgirl...hit it hard and early...always works
Jen, msk, - After some thought the unbitten end will have germs on it too if you're using grubby hands or licked your fingers.
Adamadam, aren't there plenty of food-borne illnesses that could be researched?
I was really just trying to be a smartass, though.
Well, I tend not to have grubby hands or lick my fingers, so I think I'm okay. Ew, dude!
msk, you're a better person than me. I don't have grubby hands, but I lick my fingers clean of the salty, artificially flavored sourcream and onion residue from time to time. Shameful I know. Sorry!
I like to wash my hands three times and then disinfect with a small bottle of anti-bacterial solution before each dip. I also gargle that solution before the tip. I have deep-rooted problems though.
Does anyone else lick doorknobs b/f they leave a room?