That's disgusting

By Kirsten Hudson

Thursday, September 24, 2009

 You opened that bottle of Dr. Pepper a week ago and crammed it into the back of the fridge. Now you’re desperate for a caffeine fix, but aren’t sure if chugging it down is a good idea.

 Turns out it’s not really bad for you — just super gross.

photo

Kirsten Hudson

Take a swig of these germs: Drinking opened beverages from the fridge can be disgusting.

 Any bacteria that could grow in a previously opened drink probably won’t make you sick, says Susan Egan, professor of molecular biosciences. After a while though, bacteria would use up the sugar in the drink and secrete their byproducts into it, making it taste bad.

 For most beverages, it will take more than a day for bacteria to grow. The amount of creepy crawlers in your drink also depends on its temperature. Keeping the drink refrigerated will keep fewer germs from developing.

 Clear liquids, such as water or lemonade, will take longer to grow bacteria because they have less to feed on, Egan says. Carbonated drinks, such as sodas, will also take a while to grow bacteria. The high acidity levels naturally sterilize those drinks, making it more difficult for bacteria to grow. But watch out before taking a swig of week-old super sugary drinks such as punch and certain juices. They can grow bacteria more quickly.

 Drinking a sip of your own day-old Vitamin Water probably won’t harm you, but definitely avoid your buddy’s old Pepsi. Germs growing on the top of the bottle are an easy way to transfer a bacterial disease or flu virus, Egan says.

 If you accidentally take a swig of the water you left sitting by your bed three nights ago, the nasty taste might make you gag like a cat hacking up a hairball, but chill out. It’s probably just dust.

Comments

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Advertisement