Bacteria can contaminate food falling on floor instantaneously: study

NEW YORK, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Bacteria can contaminate food that falls on the floor instantaneously, researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersay have found.

The findings were published in the American Society for Microbiology's Journals this month.

Researchers tested watermelon, bread, bread and butter, gummy candy on different surfaces such as stainless steal, ceramic tile, wood and carpet, and found watermelon had the most contamination and that transfer of bacteria is affected most by moisture.

Yet researchers did find that longer contact time means more bacterial transfer.