What looks like a fresh, harmless slice of lemon is often handled with bare, unwashed hands, passed from cutting board to glass without gloves or tongs. Studies from ABC News and the Journal of Environmental Health have found that a staggering number of restaurant lemon wedges are contaminated with microbes, including E. coli and traces of human fecal matter. That “detox” drink can quietly become a vehicle for illness before your meal even arrives.
You can’t control every surface in a restaurant, but you can control what you order. Skip the lemon garnish in your water, and wash your hands thoroughly before you eat. If you love lemon water, make it at home where you know exactly how the fruit and glass were cleaned. Sometimes the smallest change—saying “just water, no lemon”—is the simplest way to protect your health.
