 |
A birthday cake isn’t complete without the candles, but new research suggests that when you blow them out, there’s spit,
you’re spreading bacteria all over your dessert.
Scientists out of Clemson University in South Carolina say that on average, blowing out birthday cake candles increases bacteria counts on the icing of a cake by 14 times.
In a study in the Journal of Food Research published by the Canadian Center of Science and Education, six researchers created fake birthday cakes that essentially were frosting and candles spread on foil.
In a study in the Journal of Food Research published by the Canadian Center of Science and Education, six researchers created fake birthday cakes that essentially were frosting and candles spread on foil.
They then asked test subjects to eat some pizza to stimulate the feeling of a real birthday party, the pizza also got their salivary gland stimulated.
After their pizza lunch, they took a deep breath then blew out the candles. Afterwards, the researchers then cultured the frosting samples to find out how much bacteria would grow compared to frosting that did not have anyone blow on it.
After their pizza lunch, they took a deep breath then blew out the candles. Afterwards, the researchers then cultured the frosting samples to find out how much bacteria would grow compared to frosting that did not have anyone blow on it.
The study reveals that blowing out candles on average resulted in 1,400% (that’s 14 times) more bacteria on the frosting. However the amount of bacteria varied depending on the blower. As you know, different people spit different amounts when they talk, blow or even just exist. In one case, the amount of bacteria increased by 120 times, as reported by Sarah Zhang for the Atlantic. Stand clear when that person blows.
Bacteria counts increased 14 times more than icing that hadn’t been blown on, on average. The scientists carried out their tests three times on different days with 11 people in total.
“Some people blow on the cake and they don’t transfer any bacteria. Whereas you have one or two people who really for whatever reason … transfer a lot of bacteria,” Dr. Paul Dawson, the study’s lead author, told the Atlantic.
Don’t worry, cake-lovers. Dawson said that while our mouths are covered in a microbiome of bacteria, our germs are safe for the most part. We’d know cake is a conduit for spreading disease by now if not, he said.
“It’s not a big health concern in my perspective … In reality if you did this 100,000 times, then the chance of getting sick would probably be minimal,” Dawson told the Atlantic.
People are bacteria-ridden. In fact, the only body fluid that doesn’t usually have bacteria is urine. And if that is on your birthday cake, then it is probably time to change your traditions or your friends.
There are other practice which are less germy and safer that can be adopted than the traditional blowing out candle on birthday cakes, such as gently motioning towards the cake or twerking in appreciation
Many of these bacteria does not necessarily equal bad and sick. After all, even when completely healthy, we all have lots of bacteria in our mouths and respiratory system.
Still, in theory, you could spread airborne diseases, such as the flu, by blowing on a birthday cake. So, as common sense will probably tell you, it’s wise to avoid eating cake if the candle-blower is clearly sick, Dawson said.
Dawson’s full findings were published in the Journal of food research
Dawson’s full findings were published in the Journal of food research
Leave a Reply