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Five-Second Rule Pretty Much Bogus

Study indicates that germs are faster than that

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 18, 2012 9:59 AM CDT

(Newser) – If you were laboring under the delusion that the "five-second rule" had any basis in scientific fact, well, keep dreaming. Germs latch onto food a lot faster than that, according to a new San Diego State University study co-funded by the cleanly folks at Clorox. Researchers dropped baby carrots on floors, countertops, sinks and more, and found that germs routinely beat the five-second clock, CBS Atlanta reports.

Perhaps a more surprising result of their research: countertops actually appeared to be the most germ-infected surface, narrowly beating out carpeted and tiled floors. Will the finding stop people from eating off the floor? We doubt it. Another study conducted in tandem found that 65% of parents admit to abiding by the five second rule. We shudder to think what that jumps to among bachelors.

That deck looks pretty clean, right?
That deck looks pretty clean, right?   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 70 comments
dawnarun
Oct 18, 2012 3:48 PM CDT
http://www.newser.com/story/95997/five-second-rule-better-think-twice.html It's only been 2 years since the last time we had a fluff piece on the 5-second rule. Can we start a 5-year rule on repeating this crap?
JackNelsonSteward
Oct 18, 2012 3:48 PM CDT
We must consult the most authoritative scientific sources on this matter: http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/db/human-body/5-second-rule-with-food.html
Bulls-Eye
Oct 18, 2012 3:14 PM CDT
I have never tried eating ice cream that dropped on the floor.  It would keep slipping out of my hand.  I'll eat most anything else I drop on the floor, except maybe mashed potatoes.  Exposure to germs is not a bad thing.  It can actually make you healthier.
 

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