Let germy truth of double-dipping be told

DEAR AMY: My in-laws think nothing about putting a spoon they licked back into the coleslaw or potato salad -- or double-dipping chips into salsa or dips. My kids were taught not to do this. We've mentioned this to them a few times, but they get offended and believe we are insulting them. What are the health risks? Maybe if we could explain it from a positive viewpoint, they might understand.

--Always Offended

DEAR OFFENDED: My instinct was that this wasn't really so harmful (despite the famous "double-dipping" episode of "Seinfeld" that has been burned into our collective memory). And then I did some checking.

The Food and Drug Administration referred me to a 2008 Clemson University study. The question researchers chose to answer is: "Does double-dipping actually spread bacteria and germs?" They assembled volunteers and used wheat crackers and dips. Ultimately, they found that in just a few double-dips, about 10,000 bacteria were transferred from the eater's mouth to the remaining dip.

According to the director of the study, this is the rough equivalent of kissing someone on the mouth. If the person is carrying an infectious disease, it could possibly be transmitted to others.

So you have to ask yourselves: Are you on kissing terms with your in-laws?

 DEAR AMY: I read the letter from "Shorted Daughter" -- the woman who wanted her mother to give her more money when the mother died. I am a nurse who has seen this all too often. I have seen siblings yell at each other about who gets what on opposite sides of their dying mother's bed. It absolutely disgusts me. I have told my parents and siblings that my parents have given me all I ever wanted over the years, and I will not discuss who gets what if they die before us.

--Jim

DEAR JIM: You're a wise man.