The Seinfeld episode about double dipping sparked concern among consumers about the safety of sharing dips. Experts advise against double dipping and suggest spreading dip on the entire chip or using a new chip to avoid contamination. Guests should be aware of public aversion to double dipping and avoid the practice.
In a classic episode of the sitcom Seinfeld, George Costanza, played by Jason Alexander, commits a fatal food etiquette after a trail by “dipping” his corn chip into a communal bowl of salsa. Another guest notices the blatant double dip and confronts him. A fight ensues when George defends his right to dive any way he chooses and the other man refuses to allow any more double dives.
After this episode aired, manufacturers of snack foods and dips were inundated with consumer questions about the dubious practice of double dipping. Was it really dangerous for someone to dip a chip into a communal bowl, take a bite and then dip the chip again This practice would either contaminate the entire dip or it could survive the occasional double dip
A corn chip maker released a largely tongue-in-cheek response to the double-dipping issue, but it contained a few snippets of real advice. The practice of double dipping a snack chip or veggie stick is considered a major infraction of food etiquette by many experts. Since the dip-laden chip must be inserted into the consumer’s mouth, the remainder of the chip must be considered partially eaten or even partially digested. Putting the rest of the chip back into a communal bowl would really be the same as putting your entire mouth into it, just like the party host suggested to George just before the fists started flying.
Instead of doubling down on a chip, some savvy party planners suggest spreading enough dip to cover the entire chip at once. If this is impractical, a small amount of the additional dip could be scooped onto the consumer’s plate or applied to the half-eaten chip with a new chip. The danger point of the double dip is the return journey to the bowl. Guests should be aware of the public aversion to double dipping and avoid the practice altogether. The only exception would be if the drop in question is not common and the sole consumer intends to finish the content himself. If the dip or spread is understood to be common, then the conventional wisdom is to dip the chip once and act accordingly.
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