Avoiding germs at holiday parties

As we dash between gatherings, open houses and celebrations over the holiday season, we may be faced with a difficult question: to dip, or not to dip?

The best advice to avoid germs that can be shared as people use their fingers to serve themselves food is go for a good hand-washing before heading to the veggie tray. 

“With being at parties I would say it’s really important to wash your hands and even carry antibacterial hand gel,” says Joey Katajamaki, registered nurse and health promotion facilitator through Seton Hospital in Jasper. “I have a nursing background and I carry that stuff around and get made fun of but it’s worth it.”

When groups of people come together indoors, the opportunity for germs to spread increases. “The main concern is you’re probably shaking hands a lot,” Katajamaki says. “In the winter we’re inside a lot which can compromise our immune systems, and it exposes us to a lot of germs.”

Lynn McMullen, professor of food microbiology at the University of Alberta, definitely says “no, no, no,” to dunking a food item into a dip, taking a bite, then dunking again, a practice known as double-dipping.

“Those kinds of things are not acceptable,” McMullen says. “People should not double dip at any function because what you’re doing as soon as that touches your lips you’re able to transport viruses or bacteria back into the food product which means someone else could pick it up. So double-dipping is out.”

Another concern at parties is the length of time food sits out. “The general rule is about every two hours you should replenish things, perishable things such as dips and meat products,” McMullen says, adding that cheeses can stay out a little longer. 

“If it is a perishable food, try and keep it cold. Use serving containers with ice under them, replenish, and put small amounts out.”

Aside from going bad, the longer food is out, the more likely it will come in contact with a number of people’s fingers, says Katajamaki. “If it’s been out for a long time I would choose not to eat that, especially with children because they don’t have as good hand hygiene.”

Hosts can help prevent double dipping not only by replacing food often but also by supplying silverware with dips. “The host can prevent that by putting out a little spoon, so people dollop it on without touching the food,” she says. 

Though physical or body fluid contact intensify the effect, spreading germs is easy. “People think I’m neurotic, but I’ve learned about these little germs,” Katajamaki says. “It’s really gross when you think about it.”