NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — 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.” MORE
Pick it up. Wipe it off on your pant leg. Enjoy. What’s a touch of dysentery, compared to the loss?
I can assure you that if you haven’t eaten in a while, like several days you wouldn’t give a shit how long it laid there!
The 5 second rule is total BS. My dog’s got it in less than 1.
Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey say in a new study that bacteria can contaminate food that falls on the floor instantaneously.
Isn’t this intuitively obvious?
Rutgers has made it a priority to research pronouns too. Their credibility has suffered in my mind.
That food grew in the freaking dirt for Pete’s sake!
And this in news?
If you drop your food into an open latrine for 1/1000th of a second, it’s GONE MAN!
At my place we observe the “one bounce” rule.
I don’t think bacteria and viruses wait even 2 seconds to get on board when the bus pulls up. It just takes a touch. If it sticks, you got it.
I don’t think bacteria and viruses wait even 2 seconds to get on board when the bus pulls up. It just takes a touch. If it sticks, you got it.
Absolutely! Think about escalator handrails, elevator buttons, soda machine buttons, touchscreens, shopping carts, etc. Wash your hands often, everyone!!!
I’ve always said the 5 second rule is based on the ridiculous assumption that germs are *everywhere* except where your food lands.
I use the environment rule: Drop it in the kitchen, no problem. Drop it in a public restroom… leave it for the mice and cockroaches.
The time limit depends on the food. Tofu is contaminated beyond redemption after 0.5 milliseconds. A rib eye steak is OK for a good 12-18 hours.
You can get into Rutgers without knowing the “5 second rule” is tongue-in-cheek?
These people should get a real job. Maybe Politifact will hire them to help fact-check satirical web sites.
Some of your food has already been on the floor whether you witnessed it or not.
Depends on the situation – out in the field we would employ the 24 – 48 hour rule.
Usually worked hand in hand with the “Finders Keepers” rule. Perhaps some fancy pants university can study this one as well.
Yeah right, tell it to Tyler my Labrador Retriever.
Geese drink water they’ve shit in.
Cats lick their own assholes.
Obola licks Reggie’s asshole.
No tellin where HRC’s mouth has been.
Moslems suck goat dicks.
Just after WWII some Italians (and Germans, French, Poles, &c.) had to eat out of dumpsters.
Species must be able to develop some sort of immunities to some things.
izlamo delenda est …
Worse case I’ve seen is a friend who has no problem laying his piece of pizza on the motel bed spread.
I don’t let the guy anywhere near MY food.
People complain about restroom door handles, soda machine buttons, touchscreens, etc., but if you handle a dollar bill, you’ve just picked up the germs of everyone else who ever handled it. Now use those same contaminated hands to pick up the burger that $15-an-hour-but-still-underpaid McD worker just spit on.
They want to ban hand sanitizers because germs are becoming resistant. That’s f’in stupid because other remedies WILL be found. Maybe we should ban politicians and bureaucrats until a cure for THEM is found.
How do you expect to maintain any immunity if you’re not exposed to germs, bacteria, and viruses?
What a bunch of hothouse wimps.
Wow, just plain wow! This is the best that supposedly one of our premier educational institutions can come up with? I see a Noble in the future, not. How many taxpayer dollars were wasted on this dribble?
if you’re exposed to the bacteria, you can develop resistance to the bacteria. eat more dirt! the purell generation is doomed.