Study: 5-second rule is too generous for fallen food
September 9, 2016 By The Associated Press
Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey say in a new study that bacteria can contaminate food that falls on the floor instantaneously. (Credit: slgckgc / Flickr)
It might be time to reconsider the five-second rule when thinking about eating food that has fallen on the floor.
Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey say in a new study that bacteria can contaminate food that falls on the floor instantaneously.
The findings were published this month in the American Society for Microbiology's journal.
Researcher Donald Schaffner said the five-second rule is a "significant oversimplification of what actually happens when bacteria transfer from a surface to food."
Schaffner's research isn't the first to conclude that the favorite excuse for why that yummy snack that fell on the ground is still OK to eat is wrong.
The research did find that longer contact time means more bacterial transfer, but that the type of food and surface is just as, or more, important.
The Rutgers researchers tested watermelon, bread, bread and butter, and gummy candy on stainless steel, ceramic tile, wood and carpet.
They found that watermelon had the most contamination, and that transfer of bacteria is affected most by moisture.
I've dropped a hot dog putting it on the grill, washed it and cooked it.
But never thought about eating something that goes from floor to mouth.
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I'm not advocating eating off the floor, but literally everything in the whole world is absolutely teeming with bacteria. A few million more or less usually won't make a difference.
I'm not advocating eating off the floor, but literally everything in the whole world is absolutely teeming with bacteria. A few million more or less usually won't make a difference.
Haha this is a very good point!
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Was it a bad day?
Or was it a bad five minutes that you milked all day?
There are two major factors for me: what fell and where
My living room floor or a friends house? I'm probably eating that chip. The gas station bathroom? No way.
But if I drop jello, I'm not eating it, don't care where it was.
One thanksgiving, my grandma was slowing down, so we decided that we were hosing the family dinner. My mom and I were preparing the turkey for the oven. Her method is to slather it with butter. Well, that making it kind of slick....and I dropped the turkey on the floor. Then it shot out of my hands and across the room when I tried to pick it up. During our fit of laughing, we managed to pick the bird up, wipe it off and get it in the pan. No one died from the turkey's little detour to the oven.
There are two major factors for me: what fell and where
My living room floor or a friends house? I'm probably eating that chip. The gas station bathroom? No way.
But if I drop jello, I'm not eating it, don't care where it was.
One thanksgiving, my grandma was slowing down, so we decided that we were hosing the family dinner. My mom and I were preparing the turkey for the oven. Her method is to slather it with butter. Well, that making it kind of slick....and I dropped the turkey on the floor. Then it shot out of my hands and across the room when I tried to pick it up. During our fit of laughing, we managed to pick the bird up, wipe it off and get it in the pan. No one died from the turkey's little detour to the oven.
I'm dying laughing here.
My grandmother had a similar story about her first thanksgiving turkey.
There are two major factors for me: what fell and where
My living room floor or a friends house? I'm probably eating that chip. The gas station bathroom? No way.
But if I drop jello, I'm not eating it, don't care where it was.
One thanksgiving, my grandma was slowing down, so we decided that we were hosing the family dinner. My mom and I were preparing the turkey for the oven. Her method is to slather it with butter. Well, that making it kind of slick....and I dropped the turkey on the floor. Then it shot out of my hands and across the room when I tried to pick it up. During our fit of laughing, we managed to pick the bird up, wipe it off and get it in the pan. No one died from the turkey's little detour to the oven.
Freudian slip?
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There are two major factors for me: what fell and where
My living room floor or a friends house? I'm probably eating that chip. The gas station bathroom? No way.
But if I drop jello, I'm not eating it, don't care where it was.
One thanksgiving, my grandma was slowing down, so we decided that we were hosing the family dinner. My mom and I were preparing the turkey for the oven. Her method is to slather it with butter. Well, that making it kind of slick....and I dropped the turkey on the floor. Then it shot out of my hands and across the room when I tried to pick it up. During our fit of laughing, we managed to pick the bird up, wipe it off and get it in the pan. No one died from the turkey's little detour to the oven.
Freudian slip?
That our my iPad is so used to my work emails that often include the phrase "hosed up" it autocorrected lol
A few more germs are not going to kill you. The stomach acid will kill the germs anyway.
If it's my house, I don't care. Someone else's, I'll think about it..maybe.
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Freudian slip?