Thursday, September 07, 2006

Gag me with a...Dr. Pepper can

The other day I bought a Dr. Pepper at a convenience store. After I opened it and before I took a sip, I happened to glance at the top of the can and noticed all kinds of little black specks on the can. They looked like black pepper but they could have just as easily been rat shit.

Have you ever thought about where a can or bottle has been and who has touched it before you put that thing to your lips? At the very least, since it left the semi-sanitized conditions under which it was bottled or canned, it has been (a) in a warehouse, (b) in the back of a truck, (c) on various and sundry dollies, (d) touched by delivery men, store clerks, other shoppers and last but certainly not least (e) crawled on by God knows what type of vermin and/or insect.

Yet, have you ever seen anyone wash off the top of a can or bottle before they drink from it? Oh, you will occasionally see someone give it a perfunctory wipe but that ain’t gonna smote no rat turd funk or convenience store clerk sneeze spit germs.

So, you think you’ll solve the problem by pouring the canned drink into a glass before you drink it? Look where the tab goes when you open the can…INSIDE the drink. You think a bottled drink is cleaner? Where is your bottom lip when you take a nice big frosty swig?

Ah, so many things to gross me out and so little time.

15 comments:

Dave Knechel said...

Actually, the cans remain in a cardboard case until the store clerks rip it open to shelve each can. The remaining cans might collect dust as they wait to be stocked in the cooler. What happens after that is up to the individual clerk and whether they want to smear boogers or whatever all over them. Generally speaking, I've never seen a bug fly out of a cooler when I opened the door. I don't think they'd live too long in a cold climate like that.

You take your chances in any type store that serves food items. Hey, those "Employees must wash hands before returning to work" signs are there for a reason. Do you really think no McDonald's employee has ever scratched his/her butt before slapping that bun on top of your burger?

Laurie said...

Dave - the cans are definitely out in the open at Sam's.

I try not to think about goes on in the back rooms of any restaurant but, especially the fast food ones. Butt scratch...ooga booga!

Lorna said...

2 words: mother's milk

Dave Knechel said...

Yes, at Sam's they are, but you can wash them at home if you choose to do so. I usually rinse the top under tap water before opening.

The Dr. Pepper you bought at the convenience store, I assume you pulled it from the cooler?

Even vending machines have to be loaded by hand. In Florida, all food handlers have to wear gloves. I'll bet soda handlers don't.

Anonymous said...

Good think I don't drink cokes of any kind.

Laurie said...

Lorna - At least we know where it came from.

Dave - I suppose it's better not to know.

Jen - It's not just the sodas.

Sheila - I'm getting more Howard Hughes-y by the day.

Anonymous said...

I always washed my can tops-- something I did early on. My friends did too, and I guess peer pressure kinda had a hand in it but it is a good habit. You never really know where that can has been even if you do work in a store and know at that present time there is nothing around it.

Johnna
http://www.blogcharm.com/Colorsofink

Jack said...

Don't worry, they were probably just roach droppings.

Stephanie said...

Like I didn't have enough obsessive compulsive tics... super! You think antibacterial wipes would do the trick?

Lori Stewart Weidert said...

I like to think I'm just giving my immunity system a little boost, and in the end, become stronger by drinking my daily allowance of rat parts.

Laurie said...

Johnna - Peer pressure is a good thing.

Jack - That was my first, second and third thoughts.

Kaci - Glad I could help. I'm sure the wipes would clean it up a bit.

GnightGirl - I think my alcohol consumption must sterilize my insides a bit.

Miss Cellania said...

Like a guy (from NYC) told me, "A New Yorker will eat hot dogs cooked in water that hasn't been changed since the beginning of time, but they'll ask for a straw when they buy a can of soda."

Laurie said...

Miss Cellania - Actually, there aren't many restaurants I won't eat at. I try not to think about all of the things I accidentally ingest. Ugh.

Anonymous said...

Not too sure I should have read this Laurie, now I can think of about a million ways to ingest contaminated stuff, thanks!!

Laurie said...

Amanda - You're welcome. :)

Peter - You're welcome, too. :) :)