The Five-Second Rule Scientifically Tested

Leviticus 11:33
“And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.”

Do you suppose that bacteria talk to one another when food is dropped on the floor nearby? Their leader shouts: “Hey, don’t eat that! We have to wait five seconds!”

Apparently, that’s what many of us must think. According to the well-known five-second rule, it is safe to eat food that has fallen to the floor if we pick it up in less than five seconds. If you follow this rule, you’re in good company. Research shows that 87 percent of people said they would eat food dropped on the floor or that they’ve already done so.

Professor Anthony Hilton, from Aston University’s School of Life and Health Sciences, has now shown that there’s some truth to the five-second rule. Food picked up just a few seconds after being dropped really is likely to have less bacteria on it than if it is left on the floor for a longer period of time. Bacteria are also less likely to contaminate food dropped on carpeted rather than hard surfaces. And bacteria are much faster at jumping aboard moist than dry food.

However, Professor Hilton warns, “Consuming food dropped on the floor still carries an infection risk as it very much depends on which bacteria are present on the floor at the time.” He adds, however, that the findings of this study “will bring some light relief to those who have been employing the five-second rule for years, despite a general consensus that it is purely a myth.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving my body a great deal of protection against bacteria. But I thank You most of all for protecting me from the temptations that the world, the flesh and the devil throw at me. Amen.

Author: Steven J. Schwartz
Ref: Aston University. “Dropped your toast? Five-second food rule exists, new research suggests,” ScienceDaily. 3/10/14.