While no one knows exactly where the 5 second rule originated. You have probably done it yourself.
The rule states that when food is dropped on the floor, it is safe to eat if picked up within 5 seconds. But is it really true?
Believe it or not, recently a study was done at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ to see if it was true. They dropped 4 different foods on 4 different surfaces allowing contact times of 1 second, 5 second, 30 seconds and 300 seconds. Each was contaminated with bacteria that commonly occur in the human digestive system and allowed to dry.
The findings:
Watermmelon was the most easily contaminated food, gummy bears the least.
- Carpet had a lower bacteral transfer than stainless steel
- The wetter the food, the higher risk of bacterial transfer
- Although leaving food on the floor longer results in more bacteria being transferred,some bacteria get on food instantly
To put it more simply- The Five Second Rule is simply not true!!