Can HIV Be Contracted From Oral Contact With The Outer Edges Of A Food Container?

Posted on Thu, 4 Jan 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 4 Jan 2018 Answered on

Fri, 7 Jun 2024 Last reviewed on

Question : i bought food i put it in a container however my lips touched in the edge of the container any hiv hep b,c risk

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (46 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
no, there is no risk

Detailed Answer:
HI

No there is no risk of hep b/c or HIV from the contact with the container.

The container , even if not washed just prior to putting in the food, would have likely been clean.
Even if it was not absolutely clean, these viruses do not tend to live on these surfaces so they cannot be transferred.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (2 hours later)

thanks 1 more question i bought pizza it was rapped in a plastic with a card board underneath the pizza and since the cardboard touched the pizza any hiv hep b,c risk since i ate the pizza

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
no risk with this

Detailed Answer:
HI

No there is no risk of HIV, hep b/c associated with this either.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (3 days later)

i get different kind of incidents at home how ever i leave alone so any worry for hiv hep b, c risk

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
these would associated with a risk

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Incidents at home are not considered paths for transmission of hiv/hep b and hep c.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (28 hours later)

my lips touched a container from the store and since i licked my lips any hiv hep b,c risk

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
there is no increased risk here

Detailed Answer:
Hi

There is no increased risk here.

If there was a risk of transmission of these infections by these actions, the number of persons with HIV , hep b, hep c would be extremely high.

It is absolutely natural to have fears, everyone does but if it is affecting your daily living then you may want to see someone to see if you can get some help to deal with them.
If it is not affecting your daily living then that's fine.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (1 hour later)

thanks you say no increased risk is that mean no risk?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
yes, no risk

Detailed Answer:
no risk

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (4 hours later)

i bought macadamia nuts and the nuts were inside the 2 plastic bag however the plastic bag fell on street floor so i like to know if the nuts is still safe to eat

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
if still in bag can be eaten, if fell out of bag, cannot be eaten

Detailed Answer:
HI

If the bag dropped and the nuts or whatever food did not leave the bag , then they can be used.

IF the nuts fell out of the bag then they cannot be used.
.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar