IS THE FIVE SECOND RULE A FOOD SAVER OR A FRAUD?

Coming up with a topic for science fair is never easy but, when you do it on things that interests you, it can be fun. Personally, I have always wondered if the 5 second rule worked, so what better time to test it then for science fair?

Research:
Germs are the main reason why we question the 5 second rule. If there was nothing to make us sick, then what would be stopping us from eating our food after it has touched the floor?

There are four major types of germs. They are called bacteria, viruses, fungi and Protozoa. They all are organisms that cause diseases.

When food is dropped on a hard surface such as wood or tile it is more likely to become more bacteria filled. A rug suspends the food on top of it's fibers not allowing the bacteria to consume the food as much as the bacteria on the floor may.

As soon as the food touches the floor, bacteria begins to engulf it. It is the rush against time to save your food as fast as you can before too much bacteria has stuck to the food through the process of adhesion.

The purpose of this project is to efficiently see weather this well known rule can prevent you from consuming too much bacteria.

Hypothesis:
I think that the five second rule will not work due to the fact that bacteria spreads to the food the moment it touches the floor. Therefore, 5 seconds is too long for harmful bacteria to spread.

MATERIALS

• Distilled water
• Sterilized cotton swabs
• Spearmint mints
• A microscope
• Clean glass slides

MATERIALS CONTINUED..

• Blue dye
• Science notebook

PROCEDURE

• Label the candies 1-5.
• Place the sterilized cotton swab into the distilled water and let it soak.
• Unwrap candy #1 and swab it using the cotton swab placed in distilled water.
• Rub the residue from the candy on the swab, onto the glass slide.
• Place one drop of blue dye and put the cover slip on top.

PROCEDURE CONTINUED...
6. Place the slide under the microscope and count the number of bacteria.
7. Record the amount of bacteria in the log book
8. Holding only the sides of the candy, place candy #1 on the ground for 5 seconds,with the face already tested touching the floor.

PROCEDURE CONTINUED
9. Pick the candy up, place it in it's wrapper and using a new sterilized cotton swab that had been bathed in distilled water, complete steps 2-7 once again.
10. Record the amount of bacteria the second time around and weather it increased, decreased or stayed the same.
11. Complete steps 2-10 for the other 4 candies.

Untitled Slide

Conclusion:
I have concluded that the five second rule does not work due to the fact that the amount of bacteria on your food increases at a very rapid pase. This project opened my eyes to how easily germs can spread to food and allowed to me understand more about my surroundings.

REFERENCES

• Whitman-Salkin, S. (2014, March 15). Scientists Study What to Do If You Drop a Cookie on the Floor. Retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140315-five-second-rule-bac...
• Dowshen, S. (2014, January 1). The 5-Second Rule. Retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/5_seconds.html
• UK Study Lends Credence to 'Five-Second Rule' | Food Safety News. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2014/03/the-five-second-rule-is-real/#.VMVRU4...
• How Germs are Spread. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://learnaboutgerms.arizona.edu/how_germs_spread.htm
• Fact or Fiction?: The 5-Second Rule for Dropped Food. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-the-5-second-rule...