Mouthing Off | Food safety, the five second rule and how floor bacteria could be better for you than you think
- Does the five second rule for dropped food really work, or will it make you sick, or healthier?
- Whether you eat dropped food depends on how dry it is, whose floor you drop it on and how tasty it is
It’s about time we debunk the myth of the five second rule.
It’s a long-held belief that if food falls onto the floor and you pick it up within that short but golden time frame – some folks adhere to a shorter three second tenet – then that chip or sandwich is still good to eat. Beyond that span, it will be too contaminated with germs and dirt for your pie hole.
The idea seems plausible. The sooner it is off the ground, the fewer microorganisms it will pick up – right? I used to imagine that floor germs were like Mad Max-style roaming gangs of outlaws. With any fallen morsel, they rush to invade and attack. “Quick, get on that chicken nugget before it is picked up!”
Occasionally you just can’t get there in time. The innocent cookie is on the ground too long and is now overwhelmed by filth. Blowing on it won’t help. You have to let it go, there’s nothing to be done. You could rinse but, dammit, it’s a cookie.
Scientists and TV shows like Mythbusters have tested the five second rule and shown it doesn’t work. The reality is, the amount of bacteria attached from floor contact is roughly the same whether it’s 10 seconds, five, three, or just a millisecond. It’s like licking the bottom of your shoe. Doing it fast doesn’t make it less gross. The real question is how much dirt do you think your gut can handle?