Fall is the best season for a ton of reasons: the changing weather, the fun outdoor activities, and all the yummy fall foods.
One of the most versatile, simple, and delicious fall foods is the apple.
Every autumn, thousands of people go to apple orchards to pick their own fruits, enjoy the hot cider, and eat some tasty donuts.
Later, when people bring their apples home, they make pies and other desserts with them, or just eat them straight out of the basket.
Another fun fall activity that's even better with fresh-picked apples? Bobbing!
For many, this activity is a Halloween-party must-have.
Sticking your face into a bucket filled with water and apples is not only fun, it's also silly and great for pictures.
But is bobbing for apples actually safe? Find out more about why this goofy game probably isn't the healthiest below!
[H/T: Romper]
For hundreds of years, people have gone bobbing for apples at autumn gatherings with friends.
The activity itself is rather simple: after filling a tub with water and adding a few apples, people take turns trying to bite the apples out of the water without using their hands.
For many germaphobes, bobbing for apples is a complete nightmare — but is it actually safe?
Unfortunately, the verdict isn't great.
Bobbing for apples may actually have multiple health risks.
According to FoodSafety.Gov, the apples used for the activity may cause food-borne illness.
They explain that you should "reduce the number of bacteria that might be present on apples and other raw fruits and vegetables by thoroughly rinsing them under cool running water. As an added precaution, use a produce brush to remove surface dirt."
In addition to the health risks the apples pose, they also can be dangerous for your eyes.
If the stems of apples come into contact with your eyes, they could scratch the surface.
Unfortunately, eye infections can also be spread through the water.
Other disease-causing pathogens, like E. coli and salmonella, can be transmitted through water if it becomes contaminated.
Unfortunately, those aren't the only illnesses you can get when bobbing for apples.
Since fall is cold and flu season — and kids get these sicknesses most often — you should never go bobbing for apples if you're feeling under the weather.
Flu-causing microbes can be transmitted through the water and contracted through bodily fluids, like saliva and mucus.
Instead of bobbing for apples at a Halloween party this year, try some other fun fall activities — like pumpkin carving, crafting with leaves, or eating donuts hung off strings.
If you love autumn, but want to stay healthy this season, please SHARE this article with your friends!
