Study suggests blowing out birthday cake candles could be health risk

The next time you blow out the candles on a birthday cake, you may want to wish for a strong immune system.

A study published in the Journal of Food Research found that blowing out birthday cake candles left behind 1400 percent more bacteria on the cake's frosting than if candles were not blown out on the cake.

Explore>> Read more trending news

The study suggests that those with health concerns may want to take safety measures when engaging in the birthday cake tradition.

Read the complete study at Journal of Food Research.

About the Author

Joy Johnston, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

15 family-friendly things to do in metro Atlanta this weekend

1h ago

Mrs. America isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty

Where can I find it?

Featured

Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC

‘Landslide’ PSC sweep jolts Georgia Democrats ahead of 2026 midterms

Georgia Democrats put Republicans 'on notice' ahead of 2026 midterms with Public Service Commission wins.

Atlanta traffic patterns are changing, report says. How it impacts your drive.

A recent study from Texas A&M University backs up what we're all seeing: Roads are clogged all day long, and by some metrics, traffic is busier than in 2019.

Mrs. America isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty

From beauty queen to cricket farmer to grief coach, Buford resident Paige Ewing keeps it real. She is the 2025 Mrs. America, and in January she will compete for Mrs. World.