That seemingly fresh and harmless lemon slice in your restaurant water may not be as clean as it looks. In some restaurants, lemon wedges can be handled with bare hands and transferred from cutting boards to glasses without gloves or utensils. Research cited by ABC News and the Journal of Environmental Health has reported microbial contamination on restaurant lemon wedges, including bacteria such as E. coli and traces associated with human fecal matter. What appears to be a refreshing addition to your drink could potentially expose you to unwanted germs before your meal even reaches the table.

You can’t control how every surface or ingredient is handled when dining out, but you can make simple choices about what goes into your glass. Consider ordering your water without the lemon garnish and remember to wash your hands thoroughly before eating. If you enjoy lemon water, preparing it at home allows you to control how the fruit, utensils, and glass are cleaned. Sometimes, a small request like “water, no lemon” can be an easy way to reduce unnecessary exposure to germs.