So I'm sitting around and we is toasting da Bahamaland independence. The drink of choice among my peers is a Gibson Martini -- Bombay Sapphire Gin, extra dry vermouth, and a pickled pearl onion instead of an olive.

A big fat old fly is buzzing around the jar of pickled onions. The fly lands on the surface of the pickle juice, and is soon deader than a doornail.

The host (a woman) says "Ewwwww" and dumps the whole shebang down the sink and throws out the pickled onions.

I say that if the fly died, then the pickle juice would also kill any germs on the fly. Nobody else seemed to know.

So the question of the day is this: Were the pickled onions still good with the dead fly in the pickle juice? Inquiring minds gatta know?

What a waste!. The acid in the pickling liquid which was more than likely acetic acid would have been strong enough so that any bacteria on the fly would not have been able to multiply. Plus you would need a lot of bacteria to have made you sick. If you then put the onion in the alcohol that too would have prevented bacterial growth.

The basic premise of chemical food preservation is to use a food grade chemical, usually an acid, alcohol, sugar or salt to make conditions inhospitable for microbial growth.

Lurker, you were right!

plus, the fly added an extra protein kick ... you need to find some new friends, lurker :)!

plus, the fly added an extra protein kick ... you need to find some new friends, lurker :)!

too funny!

that's why I love you all...you learn something new everyday you come here and yinna make me laugh!

I don't normally throw away good food or drink.

too funny!
that's why I love you all...you learn something new everyday you come here and yinna make me laugh!


"we'll be here all week, folks ... remember to tip your waiters!"

Don't tell me she threw away the jar too? :eek:

Don't tell me she threw away the jar too? :eek:


Of course she did. It was contaminated with fly poop.

Of course she did. It was contaminated with fly poop.

Lets give her some credit where credit is due, especially in this area of food hygiene; bahamians in the food industry are always critisized for bad hygiene and improper storage of food. I would not have wanted the pickled goods! Hopefully you got a fresh pickled onion.

Yes and no ... there may be "some" germs, but not enough to really make you ill, unless it was some new type of fly.

A full bottle of acidic vinegar wont kill germs, and even some of the so called anti bacterial products or disinfectants wont kill them (they are mostly just hype but worth a try sometimes), perhaps Muriatic Acid would, but then you know .... if there were germs still there, I highly doubt the pickle juice would kill them all.

Basically by now most are immune to the chemicals we use, whether they are mixed in with cleaners or natural in foods.

She did the right thing anyway, though if you insisted, she could have just let you have it. :)

THOUGH, what Germs there would have been might not have been that bad (not knowing where you are, did the flies just come from the local dump, maybe swarming around a dead animal?). Plus, there are more serious things to worry about besides the amount of germs a fly may carry, and thats if they even lived long enough to reach that pickle.

Not being a fly poo coniseur myself though, best to ask someone that has prior experience in that. However, Ive chucked away things for less than fly poop, I have a nightmare walking around the food stores here ... the dirt, slime, old, opened food and drink, is enough to make your skin crawl, in fact if there was any form of active health dept here, those stores would be closed down.

One dead fly probably wold not have killed you.

One dead fly probably wold not have killed you.

Agreed, but the more afluent peoples of the world will throw anything away if it is perceived to be contaminated. Most people I know would have just scooped the fly out and mashed the onions. Waste not want not and all that good stuff.

"we'll be here all week, folks ... remember to tip your waiters!"

where this came from again?

Agreed, but the more afluent peoples of the world will throw anything away if it is perceived to be contaminated. Most people I know would have just scooped the fly out and mashed the onions. Waste not want not and all that good stuff.

but my christ we eat escargot...hell I would throw the fly on and continue socially drinking. the onion was only for decoration anyway!

well if you drink from a can (like can soda) especially in Nassau, the fly would have less germs.