Have you ever heard of the “five-second rule”? It’s a concept that permits consuming food dropped on the floor if retrieved within five seconds. It is commonly believed that any microbes present on the fallen food will be neutralized by stomach acid and pose no harm to humans.
Experts from Rospotrebnadzor assert that before employing the “five-second rule,” several considerations must be addressed.
Is the floor clean?
If you’ve been walking in dirty shoes or if your pet has recently been on the floor, it’s likely teeming with harmful bacteria that could jeopardize your health.
What was dropped?
A cookie or cracker will absorb fewer bacteria from the floor compared to meat or pasta in tomato sauce. As for fruits and vegetables, thorough washing suffices.
Where did it fall?
This largely depends on the floor type. For instance, if your sandwich falls on a carpet, there will be fewer bacteria due to minimal surface contact. However, this rule doesn’t apply when the food lands on laminate, tile, or linoleum.
Experts also noted that if you’ve eaten food dropped on the floor without getting sick, it doesn’t guarantee immunity in future instances.
Rospotrebnadzor urges Russians to observe basic hygiene rules during food preparation: using separate cutting boards, knives, and utensils for different products, washing hands, and not relying on the “five-second rule.”
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