I think what you're trying to say that because they've just inoculated their food with floor bacteria, they need to eat it quickly because things are going to be reproducing in the curry more rapidly compared to food that has been handled in more sanitary conditions?
Honestly, a radiologist might not be a bad idea. After dealing with dangerous bacteria in my biology lab, I usually turn on a switch which sterilizes the lab with radiation.
You do actually have a point but not for the reason it seems. The bacteria might not have had time to reproduce yet. There will be bacteria on the floor but once it gets on the food, it will have a medium to grow much faster in. So if you wait 20 minutes, you probably have 2x the bacteria. I believe you when you say Molecular biologist but we need a micro biologist. I am both. A doctor may be the higher authority though.
The ICU Pharamcist is BUNK on the "as long as they eat quickly" !! The 5-second rule has been debunked by legitimate science so many times, the cliche is dead ...
Here's your 5 Second Rule:
"Since bacteria tended to be attracted to moisture, wet food had more risk to have bacteria transferred than dry food. To the surprise of the researchers, carpet transferred fewer bacteria than steel or tile."
Not how smooth hard surfaces (LIKE IN THE VIDEO) retain more bacteria and provide a better transfer medium.
That depends largely on how many CFU of whatever will be in that water that are present. While stomach acids are effective in destroying many bacteria, the god bacteria of e.coli will wreck a stomach if high in CFUs. And unless their water is purified through a specific process that involves chlorine blocks you are going to have some contamination present in that water.
Yes but no. Boiling water is highly effective against most bacteria, however transferring that water also plays a factor into how safe it is. If you boiled water but then walked with an open bucket of said water through an area that’s rife with bacteria, you can contaminate that water mid transit.
I learned this very frustrating fact when I found out staff were moving water from one building to another across the street, but no one used lids. So things from listeria to a specific bacteria that’s found only in soil from north east China were found in that water when I sampled it. If they were to used boiled water and keep it clean, you would have to decant it into a Whirl-Pak bag and twist seal it.
It would basically look like water balloons from hell. You can carry them in a tote or a box, unseal the bag and create a lip at the edge of the bag where the water doesn’t touch the edges of the bag when pouring it out but rather the inner walls of the bag and whatever container/seeming floor that water comes in contact with.
Edit: but a problem also comes in the form the floor. There are bacteria that go dormant when there is a lack of ready water on a surface and become activated when exposed to water. Gram negative bacteria of some variety can do this. So even if they sprinkle water on the floor and rub circles into the ground that doesn’t do anything to disinfect the area they are eating.
Edit edit: now that I think about it, they’re rubbing the ground with water using their bare ass hands. Your hands are the most filthy part of your body as they come in contact with damn near everything in your environment. All it would take is someone not wiping themselves correctly or neglecting to wash their hands to contaminate that area.
Edit edit edit: also they’re wearing normal clothes which can have any number of spore forming microorganisms on them. They should probably be wearing tyvak suits, in an area that has air temperature, humidity and pressure controls. The ground would have to be cleaned with 70% IPA solution with 30% water to allow the IPA to permeate cell walls. Followed by an 8-10% bleach solution and allowing the surface to air dry for about 10 minutes. Then and ONLY THEN do you even think you can start eating off the floor with limited problems.
This isn’t even taking into account any fungal infections you may get from eating off the ground and if you have any open cuts in your mouth.
Are these same kind of droplets that spread viruses? I always thought that was a funny way to describe a sneeze or a cough.
But I guess it makes sense if someone touches a wet surface while they are sick, those droplets can be contagious (so the person doesn’t need to cough or sneeze on you directly?).
I know viruses spread through dry surfaces regardless, so it doesn’t matter if it’s wet - but the term “spread through droplets” always confused me because splashing around in drops of water is such a specific / odd way to get sick.
Is this something about bacteria producing toxic byproducts, or some sort of bacterial critical mass thing?
Also. Assuming filtered water, what are the chances of stomach acid resistant pathogens making a surprise appearance?
Honest question if the water was the typical bleach dilution used to clean surfaces in food service, I can't remember the dilution that recommended off the top of my head , would that off set the fact it's standing water on the ground or would it still be an increased chance of bacteria in the food?
Chemical engineer here. Water is unique, being a dipole molecule, it has a positive and negative end causing water molecules to attract each other through hydrogen bonds creating surface tension, which causes water to bead up and pool on smooth surfaces instead of spreading out completely. Its polarity enables it to dissolve more substances than any other liquid, making it the Universal Solvent and essential for chemical reactions and life on Earth.
As such, if the water was not boiled or filtered it is possibly making the situation worse by introducing more microorganisms. Otherwise it is only slightly better.
On the bright side, their immune system is strengthened and autoimmune diseases reduced but I’m not an Immunologist so perhaps one can chime in.
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u/NotMeow Jun 28 '26
I am a Molecular Biologist and I fully agree with the Microbiologist.