Saltine cracker challenge: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:32, 26 September 2012

Revision as of 05:33, 26 September 2012

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[[File:SixSaltinesAndForkOnPlate.jpg|thumb|Six Nabisco 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 fivesix [[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]]

The challenge is generally given as eating fivesix saltines in a single minute, although the target is sometimes set at sixfive 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 could not eat 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 did not 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>