How Gross Is Double-Dipping, Really?

You Should Know: Warm weather means weekends will start filling with barbecues, picnics, and pool parties. The accepted etiquette is that you don’t double-dip your chips or carrot sticks in communal eating situations. But is double-dipping actually harmful — or just a gross social faux pas? 

Going Deeper: There hasn’t been a ton of research studying the effects of double-dipping, but a well-known 2009 study in the Journal of Food Safety found “significant bacterial transfer” after participants bit crackers then dipped them. Even beyond the germs, double-dipping can affect the quality and texture of our food: an enzyme found in saliva can break down chemical bonds in starch molecules, potentially leaving party dips extra watery and thin. 

Takeaway: The mouth is naturally teeming with more than 700 species of microbes — most of which are harmless and help maintain a healthy oral microbiome. Getting sick from sharing dip is pretty unlikely, though some germs — including norovirus — can be transmitted through saliva and contaminated food. But if someone at your party has a cold, you’re much more likely to catch it from coughs or sneezes than from the dip.

Bottom Line: Stick to single-dipping, or spoon some onto your plate so you can dip with abandon. If the idea of shared dip turns your stomach, skip it.