Is it unhealthy to blow out birthday candles? - Find out

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New Delhi: Birthday cakes all over the world are cut after blowing out the candles – a 'custom' we have followed since time immemorial.

But should we be doing that? A study has raised questions on eating the same cake we blow out candles on, saying that we may be releasing a good amount of bacteria in the process.

A team of researchers at Clemson University in South Carolina found that the saliva that is spread when blowing out a birthday cake, increases bacteria icing by almost 1,400 percent.

According to the Deccan Chronicle, Dr Paul Dawson, who conducted the study with his group of undergraduate students came to this shocking conclusion which got them thinking about food safety.

Dr Dawson told Daily Mail Online that he actually got the idea while having a conversation with his daughter.

During the experiment, it was observed that there was an enormous growth of bacteria on the cake frosting after one blows on them (with certain people spreading more bacteria than others).

However, Dawson is of the opinion that it should in no way deter the practice of candles and cake.

The scientist believes that if it was that serious an issue it would have caused some big commotion by now considering how common the practice of blowing cakes on birthdays is, Deccan Chronicle reported.