There is something so familiar about a night out when a glass arrives topped with a bright citrus slice. It feels like a small upgrade, whether it is a lemon in sparkling water, a lime wedge on a rum and coke, or an orange wheel perched on a cocktail. In restaurants, the same idea shows up as pretty fruit on plates, making even simple orders look more considered. But one health expert is urging people to think twice before letting that garnish touch their drink.
Vicky Derosa, who shared her warning on TikTok, said there is one thing she would not accept in a restaurant or bar unless she bought it herself, washed it, and sliced it. The item is fruit garnish, especially citrus like lemons, limes, and oranges. Speaking to her roughly 410,000 followers, she framed it as a practical habit rather than a picky preference. Her message was simple, ask for your drink without the wedge.
Derosa claimed citrus can be among the dirtiest items that end up in a glass because it is often not washed before being cut and served. She suggested telling bartenders or servers directly that you do not want a lemon slice or lime wedge added to your beverage. She also cast doubt on how often restaurants truly buy organic citrus, even when customers might assume that is what they are getting. The point, she implied, is that you cannot really verify how that fruit has been handled behind the scenes.
@vicky.derosa Please NEVER touch this at a restaurant! ❤️ #toxins #holistichealth #eatclean #healthprofessionals #healthcoach #disease #germs ♬ original sound – Vicky Derosa
In the comments, several viewers said her advice matched what they had seen while working in the industry. One former waitress said she agreed with skipping citrus garnishes. Others brought up personal stories that made the warning feel more urgent. One commenter claimed that after being hospitalised, medical staff asked early on whether they had put a lemon in their drink at a restaurant.
Another person went further, saying they were hospitalised after contracting salmonella from dining out and that the first question the CDC asked them was whether they had added lemon to a restaurant drink. Stories like these are hard to read without picturing all the places a lemon wedge might travel before it lands on the rim of your glass. Even if you love the taste, the garnish becomes less charming when you start thinking about kitchen routines, busy shifts, and shortcuts taken when nobody is watching.
Would you still take the lemon wedge, or are you starting to order your drinks without it? Share your thoughts in the comments.
