Truth on the 5 Second Rule
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We’ve all heard it before. If you drop food on the floor or ground, as long as you retrieve it within 5 seconds, it is still good enough to eat. The truth is it’s probably not even safe to follow a 1-second rule.
The transfer of bacteria from a contaminated surface, such as the kitchen floor to food, is almost instantaneous. Consider that these surfaces at home are the same as you walked upon at a public restroom or a gas station. The germs and bacteria from these locations are on the bottom of your shoes and can easily transfer onto other surfaces.
In one study, a scientist from Clemson University dropped pieces of bologna and slices of bread on the surfaces for as little as 5 seconds and as long as 60 seconds. After just 5 seconds, both food types had already picked up over 1,700 bacteria, and 10 times that amount after 1 minute.
Any type of food, whether dry or moist, should always be discarded if they ever touch the ground. Depending upon the type of item, it may become an unplanned treat for your other family members (dogs).
