- I’ve lived my life by the 5-second rule, but now science is trying to kill my buzz…
- According to a new study, there is no grace period when food falls on the floor as contamination begins when contact is made with the floor.
- Previously, lab tests suggested the 5-second rule might be valid, but this was dispelled in a 2006 study.
- Now we have a 2nd study by the University of Rutgers, which confirms that bacteria transfer starts at the moment food hits the floor.
- Type of surface and food are relevant. For example, carpet is the best surface to eat off (!!) and foods with high moisture content pick up bacteria faster (e.g. watermelon picked up the most while gummy candy picked up the least).
- Results were published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
- I don’t know about you, but I have a 5-study rule, so I still have to see 3 more studies before I stop eating things off the floor…