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Science Win: Research Shows that the 5-Second Rule Is Real

Science Win: Research Shows that the 5-Second Rule Is Real

We’ve got some good news for any clumsy eaters out there: Science has proven that the 5-second rule is a real thing. Those who abide by the concept know that there is a widely held belief that if you drop something you’re eating on the floor, you have at least five seconds to pick it back up before it is contaminated. The team at Aston University’s School of Life and Health Sciences in England intentionally dropped a variety of foods on indoor surfaces and used microbiology to measure the transfer of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Calling the five-second rule “much more than an old wives tale,” professor Anthony Hilton told Science Daily, “We have found evidence that transfer from indoor flooring surfaces is incredibly poor with carpet actually posing the lowest risk of bacterial transfer onto dropped food.” Translation: If you dropped a delicious slice of bacon while reading this, go ahead and pick it back up, and eat it. You’ll probably be just fine …

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