The countdown starts. An onlooker stands motionlessly next to a culinary tragedy. A chip has fallen onto the ground. His mind is racing; to eat or not to eat? Five seconds are almost up. A bead of sweat drips from his brow.

All around the world these horror stories of morsels of delectable food being subject to gravity unfold. For eons the 5-second rule has been used to circumvent food going to waste, but it was thought to be but a myth. According to a recent scientific study, there is some scientific merit to the method. It found that food picked up a few seconds after being dropped is less likely to contain bacteria than if it is left for longer periods.

The study also found that the type of surface plays a vital role, with carpet transmitting less germs than tiles, and that women employ the 5-second rule more than men. Eating food dropped on the floor still carries the risk of infection, depending on what bacteria is present on the ground.

[ Source : Today ]