The Truth About Dropped Food and the 5-Second Rule...

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A study on the 5-second rule

It turns out that watermelon was the most prone to contamination, while gummy candy was the least contaminated of all four food types. Another key factor was moisture. "Bacteria don't have legs," Schaffner said in a written statement. "They move with moisture, and the wetter the food, the higher the risk of transfer. Also, longer food contact times usually result in the transfer of more bacteria from each surface to food." In terms of material, the study results indicated that carpet has a lower transfer rate than tile and stainless steel. The wood transfer rate was inconsistent.