# Health risk to family members from me drinking out of OJ carton? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 14, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253 "2004-03-14T18:46:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hauss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5fc32e/32.png) [@hauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hauss)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/1 "2004-03-14T18:46:09Z")
What risks are there to my family if I drink straight from the carton, while they pour their glasses of OJ? Additionally, being that I have been doing this for years without any apparent effects to them, what are the risks to them from now on? I don’t go around kissing different people or drinking after anyone at all, by the way. And I don’t slober all over the carton either. I guess if I contract a disease, I obviously could give it to them… but let’s just say that we are talking about generic bacteria from my mouth, like everyday conditions. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/2 "2004-03-14T18:59:59Z")
What are you, a gorilla? Don’t drink from the damn carton. Unless you live alone. Then it’s OK. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/3 "2004-03-14T19:00:23Z")
> [@](#): > > What risks are there to my family if I drink straight from the carton, while they pour their glasses of OJ? Assault charges? ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/4 "2004-03-14T19:05:28Z")
> [@hauss](#): > > What risks are there to my family if I drink straight from the carton, while they pour their glasses of OJ? That’s a pretty neat trick! Do they hold the carton still while you’re drinking, or do they try to move it away from your mouth so that more of the OJ goes into their glass? ---
**Author:** ![dakravel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@dakravel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dakravel)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/5 "2004-03-14T20:49:47Z")
I’m envisioning holes in the bottom or side of the carton as he drinks from it. Just gotta make sure you position those cups correctly. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/6 "2004-03-14T21:05:02Z")
Why don’t you just have You are worthless peasants to whom I need show no consideration or respect tatooed on your forehead? That should get the point across quite nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/7 "2004-03-14T21:12:13Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t go around kissing different people or drinking after anyone at all, by the way. Let’s see. You don’t drink after other people, but you force them to drink after you. What a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/8 "2004-03-14T21:33:38Z")
In all seriousness, the bacteria in your mouth have evolved specifically to digest sugars. Since there are plenty of simple carbohydrates in orange juice, any trace of bacteria that happen to get in there can multiply and spoil the juice quicker than it would otherwise. Personally, I have seen two people share a bottle of mouthwash (yes _mouthwash_, and not your sissy standard issue green stuff, I mean the really strong tasting stuff that’s supposed to kill bacteria) and besides getting the top caked in saliva, bacteria actually grew inside and made little white clumps suspended in the fluid. And if I’m not mistaken, the bacterium in question is called _Staphylococcus mutans_. Still feel like a nice long swig of orange juice? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/9 "2004-03-14T22:25:45Z")
Jeez, man, stop being such a turd. You’re probably giving them colds and whatever else you’ve got, and shrugging it off. If you’re going to treat your family like that, send them to me instead - lot less trouble for you. I’ll even send you a case of orange juice. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/10 "2004-03-14T23:52:49Z")
I have to agree with the general consensus here… Unless you live alone, pour the juice. If that’s too much trouble, pay for your own carton and clearly label it “Pre-slobbered”… Even when I’ve lived alone, I can’t bring myself to drink out of the carton… Blick. ---
**Author:** ![hauss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5fc32e/32.png) [@hauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hauss)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/11 "2004-03-15T00:04:07Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > Let’s see. You don’t drink after other people, but you force them to drink after you. > > What a jerk. Ok, I’ll take this at face value. Here’s something you laughingly overlooked… I care enough about my family to come on here and ask about it. You screwed up, bud. I see what happened though. You saw everyone else chime in with an attack, and you, looking for a little self-confidence, had to go overboard with it. Be honest, am I right? 😉 BTW, isn’t it against the rules to call names? Score 2 for you then. This board needs more people like you. Good job. As for the rest of you, step back and take a good look at yourselves. Good riddance. And good night. :rolleyes: Thanks cityboy. ---
**Author:** ![hauss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5fc32e/32.png) [@hauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hauss)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/12 "2004-03-15T00:07:33Z")
One last thing: It’s not my habit to french kiss the Tropicana. But if that’s what you think was implied in my OP, I can’t do much about that. Moving on… ---
**Author:** ![Kempis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kempis/32/19248_2.png) [@Kempis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kempis)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/13 "2004-03-15T03:25:04Z")
It’s hard to keep remembering not to “backwash” back into the carton, so my suggestion is not to do that. The bacteria would probably matter less to me than the viruses in the saliva. Also it sets a bad example to the children, perhaps you have caught a cold yourself from a kid having done that before you. -k ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/14 "2004-03-15T05:11:22Z")
It’s gross. I’d be upset with someone who did that. But I’m a little more hung-up on that than most people, so I’ll accept that you just have a greater tolerance for that sort of risk. But then, you’re not the one at risk. The risk may be small, but then, what are the benefits? Do you save a great deal of time and effort not using a glass? I’d rather use a glass once a day than drink out of the carton myself. Why don’t you simply switch to using a glass - especially since I’d imagine the rest of your family isn’t exactly thrilled by your doing this? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/15 "2004-03-15T09:15:24Z")
Getting back to the topic of health risks from food-sharing: Mr Aspy and I regularly drink out of each other’s glasses, and I finish my daughter’s food if she doesn’t eat it all. Do people consider those health risks too, or is it OK because the food isn’t standing round afterwards? If the latter: is it still bad to drink out of the carton if you live by yourself? Wouldn’t you be providing a nice growing material for your own germs, away from pesky immune systems, and then get them back extra-strong when you next drank? ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/16 "2004-03-15T12:52:33Z")
Well, assuming that you and Mr. Asp have a good relationship, I don’t think that sharing a glass would increase your chances of sharing a head cold. Little kids seem to give you anything they catch whether you share their food or not, but in your case I’d start putting less food on her plate. Or get a mutt. As for those living alone, they would already have an illness causing virus, so that wouldn’t be an issue. I don’t know if food-spoiling bacteria would have long enough to grow in acidic orange juice in a refrigerator. It probably depends on the temperature of the refrigerator, how long it takes to finish a carton of orange juice, and whether or not you brush your teeth right before you drink. I only drink juice that no-one else in the family likes. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risk-to-family-members-from-me-drinking-out-of-oj-carton/234253/17 "2004-03-15T12:55:38Z")
From a glass.