Five Second Rule
Is dropped food safe to eat before five seconds on the
ground?
Everyone has heard of the 5-second rule. If a food item drops
on the floor and you pick it up within five seconds, it’s still perfectly safe
to eat. Undoubtedly invented by a child or teenager, the 5-second rule has been
accepted and employed by kids and adults just about everywhere.
You’ll be dismayed to find out, however, that the rule does
not have much scientific credence. Bacteria can contaminate food immediately.
"The five-second rule has little effect on the amount of
bacteria you would pick up from a heavily contaminated surface," says Dr.
Ronald Cutler, a microbiologist from Queen Mary, University of London.
"Think about this, if you drop food on a floor, it's
better to put it in the bin rather than your mouth. No matter if it’s at home
on the carpet, the kitchen floor or in the street, my advice is if you drop it,
chuck it."
The five-second rule has received some scholarly attention
and has been studied as both a public health recommendation and as a
sociological effect. A YouTube channel called Vsauce also dedicated a video to
this topic.
Bottom line: Though you may not like it (and you may hear
your mother in your ear telling you not to waste food), it’s better to toss the
food from the floor into your garbage can than into your mouth.
Debunked!
Sources:
P.S. - If you have any urban legend or superstition that you are doubtful of, just comment it and I will try to debunk that.
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