BIRMINGHAM, UK – In times of despair, five seconds could be all you have to keep your food away from bacteria, or from your dog, but that’s a different story. From myth to science, British researchers say they were able to prove that the five-second rule is, in fact, true. And by the way, the rule states that food dropped on the ground will not be significantly contaminated if it is picked up within five seconds of being dropped.
Microbiologists at Aston University’s School of Life and Health Sciences tossed a variety of foods on the floor to see how much bacteria stuck to them. The conclusion? Food picked up just a few seconds after being dropped, is less likely to contain bacteria than if it is left for longer periods of time.
The type of flooring also matters, in case you were wondering. Bacteria will be less likely to transfer from carpeted surfaces and more likely to transfer from laminate or tiled surfaces. That’s impressive: these folks really know what to do with their research money. Now, if you dropped your toast, jelly-side down on the ground… well, then you got yourself into a jam.
