The 5-second rule, which suggests that dropped food can be eaten if picked up within five seconds, is not an accurate measurement of potential contamination as harmful bacteria can adhere to food instantly. Studies have shown that moist foods like ice cream are almost certainly contaminated and the rule should not be observed.
The 5 second rule is a rule of thumb known to many people around the world. Essentially, the “rule” states that dropped food can be picked up and eaten, as long as it is removed from the floor within five seconds.
In other areas, the 5-second rule is known as the 3-second rule, suggesting that some people may be more concerned about contamination than others. Unfortunately, in both cases the ‘rule’ is not an accurate measurement of potential contamination, as food is perfectly capable of picking up harmful bacteria such as Salmonella in an instant.
Several things are at issue with the five second rule. The first is that harmful bacteria are often invisible, meaning that a seemingly perfectly clean floor may actually be teeming with bacteria. The second is that harmful bacteria are everywhere, especially on floors, as they are tracked by shoes, feet and pets. Other substances like carpet can harbor bacteria for weeks. Since you never know what might be lurking on the floor, the 5-second rule only really applies if you have a microscope and some swabs on hand.
The second problem is that the bacteria may be waiting to adhere to the food. Bacteria are transferred through direct contact, and food won’t be safe after a second, let alone five, if the floor harbors bacteria. It’s certainly true that more bacteria will be present after a long spell on the floor, but the 5-second rule isn’t necessarily a good indicator of potential food safety.
It should come as no surprise that several universities have conducted studies testing the 5-second rule. They found that dry foods like cookies and crackers might not be as likely to pick up bacteria after brief contact, but that moist foods like ice cream are almost certainly contaminated. Dry floors like wood or stone are also less likely to harbor bacteria than carpet, although no floor is completely free of bacteria.
As a general rule, the 5-second rule shouldn’t be observed when food is dropped on the floor, no matter how tempting it may be. Foods that can be washed could potentially be washed and then eaten, but other foods would have to be thrown away, as the risk of bacterial contamination is too great. While some bacteria might just make the consumer feel a little sick, others can lead to serious systemic infections that could be deadly. “He lived by the 5-second rule” isn’t exactly the inscription you want on a headstone, after all.
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