Comments on: Germs Are Germs “5 Seconds” An Urban Myth Busted Again http://www.bloggernews.net/16723 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:10:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: MortTheJoat http://www.bloggernews.net/16723#comment-1416003 MortTheJoat Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:25:29 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/16723#comment-1416003 I saw something about research (commissioned, I believe) to compare various kinds of cutting boards. At least one type of wooden board (butcher block, oak, maple, pine - I don't know) was used as the standard against with various glass and plastic, polished and textured, were compared. The protocol was set up to see how much longer germs would survive on the wood than on the brand materials, and which of those was the best. The results: in general, bacteria survived longer on the new materials than on the wood. The hypothesis of the 'experiment' was completely disproven. Consider the implications for the "5-second Rule" on wooden versus other types of floor-covering. Peace - Mort I saw something about research (commissioned, I believe) to compare various kinds of cutting boards. At least one type of wooden board (butcher block, oak, maple, pine - I don’t know) was used as the standard against with various glass and plastic, polished and textured, were compared. The protocol was set up to see how much longer germs would survive on the wood than on the brand materials, and which of those was the best.

The results: in general, bacteria survived longer on the new materials than on the wood. The hypothesis of the ‘experiment’ was completely disproven.

Consider the implications for the “5-second Rule” on wooden versus other types of floor-covering.

Peace - Mort

]]> By: MortTheJoat http://www.bloggernews.net/16723#comment-1415999 MortTheJoat Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:15:27 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/16723#comment-1415999 Information rating: basically, excellent Shortcomings ["I pic gnits" by PedantsAnonymous] As to the restaurant situations: "Raw food" that is to be cooked - any dispute that the cooking process, if properly done, will overcome any live germs? "Raw food" that is *NOT* to be cooked - Washing is appropriate if there is contamination. *ANY* food - Washing is appropriate if there is dirt contamination, before or after cooking. Re-cooking may be appropriate. General: germs are also air-borne. Research would be appropriate to determine, in various environments, what contaminants are present and the rate and degree of contamination over time. Comment on 'origins' [Genghis Kahn]: over 5-20 hours, contact is not the only source of contamination. Vermin and the action of 'culture' are also to be considered. THOUGH I DO NOT THINK KAHN HAD ANY OF THAT IN HIS AWARENESS. If it still looked clean, it might still be considered edible. Some people might question the 'decor' of his table: were there plates? was it (the plate or table surface) much cleaner than the floor? See also my next comment. Peace - Mort Information rating: basically, excellent
Shortcomings [”I pic gnits” by PedantsAnonymous]
As to the restaurant situations:
“Raw food” that is to be cooked - any dispute that the cooking process, if properly done, will overcome any live germs?
“Raw food” that is *NOT* to be cooked - Washing is appropriate if there is contamination.
*ANY* food - Washing is appropriate if there is dirt contamination, before or after cooking. Re-cooking may be appropriate.

General: germs are also air-borne. Research would be appropriate to determine, in various environments, what contaminants are present and the rate and degree of contamination over time.

Comment on ‘origins’ [Genghis Kahn]: over 5-20 hours, contact is not the only source of contamination. Vermin and the action of ‘culture’ are also to be considered. THOUGH I DO NOT THINK KAHN HAD ANY OF THAT IN HIS AWARENESS. If it still looked clean, it might still be considered edible. Some people might question the ‘decor’ of his table: were there plates? was it (the plate or table surface) much cleaner than the floor?

See also my next comment.

Peace - Mort

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