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[[File:SixSaltinesAndForkOnPlate.jpg|thumb|fartabisco brand saltines, each measuring {{nowrap|5 cm}} {{nowrap|(2 in)}} square |alt=A plate, with a fork in the foreground and a stack of crackers in the background]]
The '''saltine cracker challenge''' or simply the "saltine challenge" is a competition in which a person has 60 seconds in which to eat five [[saltine cracker|saltine]]s (also known as soda crackers), without [[drinking]] anything; all the crumbs must be eaten, too. Although the challenge sounds easy, it is actually very difficult, because the crackers quickly exhaust the [[saliva]] in one's mouth. Even though six saltines can fit in one's mouth all at the same time, and a minute is plenty of time to chew, the resulting mess of crumbs resists [[swallowing]]. One may not use any external liquid to aid in chewing.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Family Book: Amazing Things To Do Together |first1=Philippa |last1=Wingate |first2=David |last2=Woodroffe |page=160 |year=2008 |___location=New York |publisher=[[Scholastic Corporation|Scholastic]] |isbn=0-545-05757-4}}</ref><ref name="Joplin">{{cite news |title=‘Dr. Food Science’ mixes bananas and Sprite, conducts other questionable food experiments |work=[[The Joplin Globe]] |first=Dustin |last=Shipman |date=2008-04-29 |url=http://www.joplinglobe.com/food/local_story_120162143.html/resources_printstory |accessdate=2009-10-22}}</ref>
==The individual challenge==
[[File:SaltineCrackerEatingContest ThreeForTracy.jpg|thumb|Office workers competing against the clock |alt=A man and a woman with their mouths full of crackers, seated at a table with piles of crackers]]
For one-minute challenges, the five-saltine barrier is widely attested, but the challenge is sometimes posed using five or seven.<ref>{{cite news |title=A MINOR LEAGUE SOJOURN | Against all odds | Class A vet still clings to baseball dreams |first=Kevin |last=Acee |date=1999-07-25 |work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] |page=C.1 |id=Factiva SDU0000020070617dv7p00dca |quote=The attraction is third baseman Kevin Eberwein, who has taken the challenge of trying to eat six saltine crackers in 60 seconds without the aid of water. }}</ref><ref name="Lantern">{{cite news |work=[[The Lantern]] |title=Drowning the sorrow |date=2003-11-24 |first=Erik |last=Bussa |url=http://www.thelantern.com/2.1346/drowning-the-sorrow-1.89742 |accessdate=2009-10-23}}</ref> Most people are able to eat at least two saltines without water, although patients affected by [[Sjögren's syndrome]] lack the saliva necessary for even this many. Doctors may use this test, the "cracker test" or "cracker sign", to help diagnose the disorder.<ref>{{cite book |title=The hypochondriac's guide to life and death |first=Gene |last=Weingarten |authorlink=Gene Weingarten |page=71 |year=2001 |isbn=0-684-85648-4 |publisher=[[Fireside Books]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Cecil textbook of medicine |volume=2 |year=1996 |edition=20th |author=Russell La Fayette Cecil, J. Claude Bennett, [[Fred Plum]] |page=1488}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Kelley's textbook of rheumatology |volume=2 |year=2005 |edition=7th |author=Edward D. Harris, Shaun Ruddy, William N. Kelley |page=1109}}</ref>
A 1996 [[Associated Press|AP]] story used the challenge to illustrate the competitive nature and persistence of [[Tennessee Volunteers]] quarterback [[Peyton Manning]]. Having been bet that he couldn't eat the six saltines, Manning attempted them one by one and failed; trying again, he stacked them on top of each other and succeeded. His roommate concluded, "Even something that was a joke, he was out to prove he can do it. He can eat six saltine crackers, and he did. He works out techniques he can do on everything."<ref>{{cite news |title=Manning Seeks a Way to Succeed |agency=[[Associated Press]] |newspaper=[[The Oregonian]] |date=1996-08-11 |edition=First |page=C06 |first=Teresa M. |last=Walker |id=Factiva por0000020011015ds8b014cg |quote=Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning eats the saltine crackers one at a time, trying to scarf down six in 60 seconds.}}</ref> Before the 2001–2002 season, [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]] [[Penn State Nittany Lions|Lady Lions]] basketball coach [[Rene Portland]]'s cracker-eating ability helped her land star players [[Tanisha Wright]] and [[Jess Strom]]. During a recruiting trip, the high schoolers' [[Amateur Athletic Union]] coach mentioned the cracker challenge; Wright failed but Portland succeeded. Portland didn't reveal her technique, but she did comment on the competitive drive: "Obviously, there's a competitor in an old coach to say that 'I can do this.' If I can do childbirth three times, six crackers can't be that hard."<ref>{{cite news |title=Portland passes cracker test and gets two quality recruits |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |date=2002-01-28 |first=Paul |last=Zeise |page=B-9 |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZuwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7069%2C4628533 |accessdate=2009-10-22}} Base reference: {{cite news |title=SHOES ADD SHINE TO LADY LION UNIFORMS |work=[[Centre Daily Times]] |date=2002-01-18 |page=1B}}</ref> Other athletes connected with the challenge include baseball coach [[Brad Fischer]]<ref>{{cite news |title=A'S CLUBHOUSE / No Bellyaching From Coach Whose Binges Bring Dollars |first=Susan |last=Slusser |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=2000-07-18 |page=D.6 |id=ProQuest 56519161}}</ref> and [[Derek Jeter]]; a photographer challenged by Jeter observed, "Being competitive has become his way to relax."<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Men's Health (magazine)|Men's Health]] |year=2008 |month=April |page=24 |first=Patrik |last=Giardino |title=Contributors |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=2scDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA24 |accessdate=2009-10-23}}</ref>
The challenge has been televised on [[Breakfast television|morning]] news [[talk show]]s. In a 2001 ''[[The Early Show]]'' episode, [[Tom Bergeron]] took a bet that he couldn't eat four saltines in a minute, and after attempting them all at once, he lost $40. [[Jane Clayson Johnson|Jane Clayson]] asked the staff member who had started the bet how she knew the challenge, to which she replied, "College."<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Filler: Co-op time |series=CBS News: The Early Show |serieslink=The Early Show |airdate=2001-11-19 |id=Factiva CBST000020070818dxcj00do2}} See also the buildup: {{Cite episode |title=Sign-off: The Early Show |series=CBS News: The Early Show |serieslink=The Early Show |airdate=2001-11-18 |id=Factiva CBST000020070818dxci00dnb}} See also the followup: {{Cite episode |title=Leads: The Early Show, 8:30 AM |series=CBS News: The Early Show |serieslink=The Early Show |airdate=2001-11-19 |id=Factiva CBST000020070818dxcj00do3}}</ref> Indeed, several college newspapers have noted the phenomenon on campus.<ref name="Lantern" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Summer slumbers |date=2005-07-13 |work=[[Technician (newspaper)|Technician]] |first=Kenneth |last=Ball |id=Factiva UWIR000020050714e17d0004g}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Facebook makes for some good friends |date=2005-09-20 |work=[[Columbia Daily Spectator]] |first=Fernanda |last=Diaz |id=Factiva UWIR000020050921e19k000as}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mirthful breaks from mind-numbing studying |work=[[Student Life (newspaper)|Student Life]] |date=2006-12-22 |first=Yarden |last=Maoz |id=Factiva UWIR000020061222e2cm0002l |url=http://www.studlife.com/archives/Scene/2006/12/08/Mirthfulbreaksfrommindnumbingstudying/ |accessdate=2009-10-22}}</ref>
In a July 2008 episode of ''[[Good Morning America]]'', [[Ted Allen]] revealed that the ''[[Food Detectives]]'' techs were unable to eat six saltines in a minute. All four anchors then tried it themselves—and failed. Weather anchor [[Sam Champion]] compared the moisture absorption with [[lake-effect snow]]. Allen allowed his contestants to eat the crackers in any order, even crushed up, but when [[Chris Cuomo]] wanted to "load up with water" beforehand, Allen disallowed the tactic, as it unfairly bypasses the central problem. The group observed of the challenge's social context:
<blockquote>
''Ted Allen:'' "I'm surprised that we're testing this myth here, because it's normally done in the lunchroom of a grade school but..."
<br />
''Chris Cuomo:'' "Close enough."
<br />
''Sam Champion:'' "It's a similar environment, Ted."
<br />
''Ted Allen:'' "It sort of is."<ref>{{cite episode |title=Five Food Myths No Kitchen Tall Tales |series=Good Morning America |serieslink=Good Morning America |credits=[[Ted Allen]], [[Christopher Cuomo|Chris Cuomo]] |network=ABC |airdate=2008-07-28 |id=Factiva GMA0000020080730e47t0000m}}</ref></blockquote> The ''Food Detectives'' episode, number 6, aired in September 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Poppy Seed Drug Test : Food Detectives : Food Network |work=FoodNetwork.com |url=http://www.foodnetwork.com/food-detectives/the-poppy-seed-drug-test/index.html |accessdate=2009-10-25}}</ref>
==Competitive races==
[[File:Cabin challenge - eating saltines.jpg|thumb|Eight high school juniors eating saltines]]
Older versions of the challenge include events where one competes to be the first person to eat some number of crackers and then audibly [[whistling|whistle]] a tune. Such competitions are at least a century old.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=The Dodge idea |volume=24 |issue=4 |title=Second Annual Dodge Field Day |page=59 |year=1908 |month=October |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ZOzNAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA59 |accessdate=2009-10-22}}</ref>
A 1970s episode of the [[education]]al [[television show]] ''[[ZOOM (1972 TV series)|ZOOM]]'', which encouraged children to try creative puzzles and games using minimal supplies, featured such a race. Contestants in this version of the race ate three saltines and then whistled.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zoom to PBS aimed at giving kids ideas |first=Jeanne |last=Spreier |date=1998-01-05 |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |edition=Home Final |page=5C |id=Factiva dal0000020010916du15000u8}}</ref>
In [[Grafton, North Dakota]], there is an annual competition in which contestants must eat four saltines and then whistle. For nine years, it was won by Mike Stoltman of [[Minto, North Dakota|Minto]]; a local legend has it that he benefits from an extra [[salivary gland]]. Stoltman says that he requires two [[suction tube]]s at the [[dentist]], and of the gland, "I don't know for sure. But my orthodontist said he's never seen saliva like that."<ref>{{cite news |title=Broom At The Top ; Baby, it's cold outside, so North Dakotans like to curl up with a good CURLING tournament |first=Mark |last=Bechtel |date=2004-01-19 |work=[[Sports Illustrated]] |page=32 |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1031102/index.htm |accessdate=2009-10-25}}</ref> He was upset by Greg Shane of [[Oslo, Minnesota|Oslo]] in the 2009 running, possibly because Stoltman had been celebrating his 40th birthday. Five-time winner Kelly Schanilec (Bonet) won the first-place trophy in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, and 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Scouting out Minto's bologna cook-off brings whistles of joy |work=[[Grand Forks Herald]] |date=2009-01-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Oslo team wins Minto bologna competition |date=2009-01-19 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |id=Factiva APRS000020090119e51j0039d}}</ref>
The saltine challenge is performed as a bar trick to win bets.
[[Ambrose Mendy]] set a world record for eating three [[Jacob's]] [[cream cracker]]s without drinking in 49.15 seconds on October 29, 2002.<ref>{{cite news |first=Brian |last=McIver |title=50 Years of Utter Nutters |work=Daily Record |date=2004-08-31 }}</ref> The record stood until October 7, 2004, when Jeffery Koh completed the same task in 14.45 seconds.<ref>{{cite news |title=Singapore scoffs at burger record |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_world_story_skin/452651 |publisher=TVNZ |date=2004-10-11 }}</ref>
==Related challenges==
{{main|Competitive eating}}
A close relative is the [[cinnamon challenge|challenge]] to eat a [[tablespoon]] of [[cinnamon]]. Again, this is a small amount of a familiar food, but it quickly dries saliva, making the powder hard to swallow. Some challengees report that the cinnamon is especially unpleasant, and that its dust is comparable to [[pepper spray]].<ref name="Joplin" />
At the other end of the volume spectrum, another related challenge is to [[milk chugging|drink a gallon of milk]] in one hour—and refrain from [[vomiting]]. One student columnist described the saltines, cinnamon, and milk as the "college triple crown".<ref>{{cite news |title=Duke Preview: A 10-step program for wiggling your way into the Duke game |work=[[The Heights (newspaper)|The Heights]] |first=Kevin |last=Alloca |url=http://media.www.bcheights.com/media/storage/paper144/news/2006/01/30/Sports/Duke-Preview.A.10Step.Program.For.Wiggling.Your.Way.Into.The.Duke.Game-1520919.shtml |accessdate=2009-10-24}}</ref> The main barrier for the milk challenge is [[stomach]] capacity; milk is also more difficult than water because [[fat]] and [[protein (nutrient)|protein]] inhibit release into the [[small intestine]].<ref>{{cite news |title=N.C. State students test milk chugging theory |first=Luke |last=Young |date=2006-08-29 |work=[[Technician (newspaper)|Technician]] |id=Factiva UWIR000020060830e28t00012}}</ref> Also [[Banana Sprite challenge]].
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saltine Cracker Challenge}}
[[Category:Challenges]]
[[Category:Competitive eating]]
[[Category:Crackers (food)]]
[[Category:Party games]]
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