No one wants to find ants : Server shares warning for customers who order red drinks at restaurant

Photo by@aubrey_tucker_music/TikTok

‘If your server doesn’t do this before putting your drink in…’No one wants to find ants in unexpected places. Whether they show up in your home, or office or uninvited to a picnic, they can be particularly annoying pests.

However, have you thought about the possibility that they could end up in your drink at a restaurant?

A server mentions that this could be a valid worry for diners who choose red sodas at eateries, particularly if the staff don't pause to flush the soda fountain nozzle before pouring a drink, to get rid of any contaminants that might be present.

In her TikTok video, which has received over 610,000 likes, the user Aubrey (@aubrey_tucker_music) expresses caution about ordering red soda if the server doesn't clean the soda fountain nozzle before serving.

“Hey guys, if your server doesn’t do this before putting your drink in, 99% chance there’s ants in your drink,” she says in the video. “Ants love Red 40.”

She captioned her video elaborating on the nature of her message.

“Psa to all servers and people who eat at restaurants… ants love red 40. And big red… has a LOT of red 40 in [there],” the caption reads.

What is Red 40?

Red 40 is a synthetic red food dye found in popular snacks like Skittles and M&M candies, Nacho Cheese Doritos, and Mountain Dew Code Red. It is one of just nine color additives that the Food and Drug Administration has approved for use in food products and beverages. Notably, it is also approved by the European Union, which is known for having more stringent safety requirements for artificial dyes.

Lately, the red dye has sparked debate, with critics of artificial food colorings arguing that it's unsafe to eat. It's recognized as an allergen for some individuals, and there's a belief that it can trigger migraines in those allergic to it.

However, there is not a lot of research to back up the claim that ants are particularly attracted to the dye over other synthetic dyes used to color sugary sodas.

How do ants end up in a soda fountain?

In simpler terms, it's not rare for ants to invade soda fountains, often signaling that a spill initially lured them in. Ants are drawn to water and sugar, making soda fountains a particularly attractive spot for them. This could also suggest that the soda fountain isn't being maintained well, as parts such as the nozzles and drip tray need to be cleaned daily, or even more frequently.

It's not just soda fountains, though—ants have been found living in coffee makers as well, attracted by the heat and humidity.

What do viewers say?

The video was enough to put some viewers off red soda—or any soda—that might come from a soda fountain requiring a server to flush out the nozzle of a soda fountain, as they noted in the comment section.

“And a 100% chance I don’t want it if you have to wash the ants out before I drink it!” one commenter wrote.

“Never getting Big Red agin,” another commenter wrote.