Thinking about cracking open that soda straight from the pack? You might want to think again.
It’s a pretty good time to be a soda-lover. There are more fizzy drink options than ever, many without sugar or produced with healthier ingredients than the sodas of previous generations.
However, that doesn’t mean that sodas today are healthy—or that there aren’t issues still affecting the industry. Workers in the industry have complained about unsanitary conditions. Some also say that the cans and bottles you actually get aren’t as clean as you might expect.
One video on this topic recently went viral, accumulating over 589,000 views. Now, many are asking: Should you wash your cans before drinking out of them?
Are Soda Cans Contaminated?
In his video, TikToker @thequantofx says that, if one wants to drink soda, they should do so from a bottle, not a can.
“Because, if there is a pee pee of rats or any insect, and you’re drinking from a can, you will die,” the TikToker jokes. “You will die in a day. One day.”
While the latter part of the video may be a joke, it’s not the first time a similar claim has been floated online.
In fact, rumors about rat pee on soda cans go back several decades, with Snopes covering the topic back in 2000. The claim was also featured on an episode of Mythbusters.
Is There Really Deadly Rat Pee On Your Soda Can?
For context, much of the fear of “deadly rat pee” lingering on a soda can comes from the idea that rat pee can contain Leptospirosis.
If one is exposed to Leptospirosis, they can have dramatic side effects, including fever, chills, nausea, and diarrhea.
However, the likelihood that one will actually be exposed to Leptospirosis via rat pee on a soda can is pretty slim. As noted by AFP, Leptospira bacteria need a moist environment to survive and cause infection. The tops of soda cans are, generally speaking, dry, making it an unlikely vector for infection.
Instead, most infections happen through other exposure to animals, such as through meat processing or on farms.
Should You Clean the Top Of Your Soda Can?
Even if a soda can’s top doesn’t contain deadly rat pee, some still wonder whether it’s smart to clean the top anyway.
That decision appears to be up to the individual drinker. Some independent studies have found that, yes, soda cans can be pretty gross.
However, the actual danger of contracting an illness from a soda can also appear to be fairly low. This is why some experts say that, unless there’s a visible problem with the can, you’re more than likely fine consuming the can without washing it first.
That said, if you want to be safe, you can simply wash the can before drinking. Alternatively, you can pour the can into a clean glass to avoid making contact with the can itself.
@thequantofx RAT URINE AND OTHER EXCRETIONS OF OTHER THINGS ARE POISONOUS TO YOU
♬ original sound – The Quant of X
Commenters Are Divided
In the comments section, some users swore that washing the can was entirely necessary.
“Y’all don’t wipe your soda can tops or wash them?” asked a user.
“Washing the top is mandatory,” declared another.
Others countered that, if they hadn’t been washing their cans already, they weren’t going to start now.
“I’ve never washed the top of a can in my 36 years,” wrote a commenter.
“dude, I’ve never heard of anyone getting sick like this lol,” shared a second.
The Mary Sue reached out to @thequantofx via TikTok comment and Instagram direct message, and Coca-Cola via email.
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