How To Disinfect Top Of Red Bull or Soda Can If Cashier Touched It?

[Ronnym]

I use the self check out option for checking out. When I did this a while back, I had an issue with it. The person that was there then carried a few of my red bull bottles and put it in another area. It wasn't a cashier but someone helping out with the self checkout a while back. When he did this, he literally grabbed each of the bottles by the top part where you drink from and I was upset by it. Normally you aren't suppose to do that and grab it by the side.

Now when I drink Red Bull or any can, I typically rinse the top of it with water. Then drink from it. However, this bothered me a lot. The thing is I recently starting drinking with a straw because of this for my other cans after rinsing the top with some cold water. However, the issue here is even if I do that and use a straw, the part where you push to open the can, will touch the Red Bull even if I use a straw.

How do I disinfect the top part of the can safely so I can drink from it? I thought about boiling some hot water and pouring it on a paper towel. Then typing the top area of the can with the paper towel. Would that work or is that bad? I know the top of cans are generally disgusting and you should wipe it or rinse it with water. But since this person grabbed the cans right in the middle of it, I want to have it fully clean before I drink from it. I will use a straw but the issue is I don't think I can open the can in a way where that part you open doesn't touch a part of the Red Bull?

Not being funny but anyone who’s drinking from cans without cleaning them first is just silly. Cans are typically stored outside and they get covered in rat urine and faeces. I’ve had a family member who ended up with campylobacter and it was traced back to this.

Poor you, OP. Life must be difficult. I’ve never cleaned a can top in my life, but I guess I’d wash it with washing up liquid and rinse it?

I hope you’re getting help for your anxiety.

Like others have said, I'd be more worried about the contents than any possible bacteria on the outside!
It's never occurred to me to clean a can but then I never really buy cans of drinks.

Cans can be stored outside but until they are put on a shelf they are wrapped in plastic. Its not quite as bad as some people think, your sister was very very unlucky. Personally I never drink from cans but that's because I need to be able to reseal so choose bottles.

It’s a lot more common than people think.

I'm pretty surprised that youve never heard anyone say that phrase. It's not an actual rule it s just a stupid thing people say when they eat food thats fallen to the floor/ground

Of course its not a scientific fact 😁

Im not sure I've ever thought about this before reading this thread but I've also never heard of anyone catching anything from canned drinks, how common is it exactly?

Yeah... this just wouldn't cross my mind in the slightest. Not even a tiny bit.

If I drop a can of Coke (lid not open) on the floor anywhere.. I'd grumble about having my hands full, maybe wipe it if it fell in a puddle and got wet where I need to drink,,, but otherwise I'd just crack on and drink from it. Wouldn't think twice.

I have never rinsed a can in my life. Didn't know this was a thing (and by replies it sounds like it isn't thankfully)

Would seem pretty pointless worrying about potential unlikely harmful germs on a can lid, when I've got 2 small kids, plus a teacher husband at 3 different school settings which everyone knows are just classroom-sized petri dishes of bacteria!