What do you do if you drop food on the floor? Throw it or eat it? If you're someone who keeps up to date with all the trends on the internet, you probably apply the well-known “5-second rule” when it comes to food. What is the “5 second rule”? Simply put, following this rule will give him permission to pick up the dropped food and eat it within 5 seconds. According to a report by the American Council on Science and Health, it is generally believed that germs and bacteria cannot be transferred to food, even from contaminated surfaces, if the food is picked up immediately. But is this theory true? In this article, we'll take a deep dive into the “5-second rule” theory for separating fact from fiction. let's start.
Is the “5 second rule” fact or fiction?
Experts say the rules vary depending on factors such as food and environment. His 2016 study from Rutgers University found that moisture levels, surface type, and contact time all influence whether food is contaminated. Researchers say that in some cases, it takes less than a second for the bacteria to transfer to food, potentially causing food poisoning and other foodborne illnesses.
For this study, the researchers tested four types of surfaces: stainless steel, ceramic tile, wood, and carpet. On these surfaces he dropped four different types of food: watermelon, bread, bread and butter, and gummy candies. At the same time, we also analyzed four different contact times: less than 1 second, less than 5 seconds, less than 30 seconds, and less than 300 seconds.
We found that cross-contamination occurs fastest on surfaces with the highest amount of moisture. Surprisingly, carpet had the lowest transfer rate compared to tiles and stainless steel, the researchers said. On the other hand, the researchers speculated that cross-contamination from wood was inconsistent.
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What are the possible complications of the “5-second rule” for food?
A 2006 study by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that a diarrhea-causing bacterium called Salmonella can infect food in as little as five seconds. According to the researchers, this means that 5 seconds is actually a very long time for food to become contaminated. This essentially negates the idea that the “5 second rule” makes food safe to pick up and eat.
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Should we follow the “5 second rule”? Yes or no?
According to a report from WebMD, a group of experts strongly condemns the idea of the “5-second rule.” They say it is difficult for amateurs to analyze the amount of contamination that occurs within seconds. Therefore, to eliminate the risk, it is better to throw away food that has fallen on the floor, especially for young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with a weak immune system. Therefore, judge your food carefully and enjoy good health.