A researcher inspired by a famous “Seinfeld” episode has concluded that double dipping really does spread germs.

According to the Associated Press, a group of students led by Clemson University microbiologist Paul L. Dawson says double dipping is like putting your whole mouth right in the dip.

Dawson’s undergraduate students examined the effects of double dipping using volunteers, wheat crackers and several sample dips. They found that three to six double dips transferred about 10,000 bacteria from an eater’s mouth to the remaining dip sample.

“I was very surprised by the results,” Dawson told the AP. “I thought there would be very minimal transfer. I didn’t think we would be able to detect it.”

The professor said the students’ research didn’t get into the risk behind such a bacteria transfer, but they got the idea.

“I like to say it’s like kissing everybody at the party - if you’re double dipping, you’re putting some of your bacteria in that dip,” Dawson said.

The results of the research will be published in the Journal of Food Safety within the next six months, he told AP.