“Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links.”
If you’re anything like me, you’re prone to dropping things. Fellow clumsy people are very familiar with the disappointment of losing precious food to the floor. Whether you’ve dedicated time to cooking a meal or spent money on something, you don’t want to end up wasting it. So, there’s a good chance you’ve either considered or committed to the five-second rule.
The five-second rule has been cited for generations as a justification to eat food after it’s been on the floor. It’s withstood years of scientific research, several food-safety scares, and even a global pandemic.
Many people still abide by the five-second rule. But what exactly is the science behind it? Are we posing any risk to our health by picking food off the floor? Does the amount of time actually make a difference? We consulted Dr. Bryan Quoc Le, food scientist and author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered, to unpack what exactly happens in those five precious seconds.
What Happens When Food Falls On The Floor?
It doesn’t matter if it’s on the floor for five seconds or five minutes; dropping food exposes it to bacteria. The degree of contamination understandably increases over time, but there is no five-second grace period before bacteria latches onto your food. Even seemingly clean surfaces are rife with microorganisms that can range from gross to straight up harmful.
A 2007 study in the Journal of Applied Microbiology found that Salmonella typhimurium, a common cause of foodborne illness, can transfer to foods almost immediately on contact. More recent studies confirm that the pathogen is hardy enough to linger on floors for up to 35 days, so floors that otherwise look clean are likely harboring some unsavory bacteria.
“Bacteria, including pathogens, can transfer to the food within five seconds or less and grow on the food,” Le says.
Do Certain Foods Have A Higher Risk Than Others?
The short answer: yes. A few factors can impact the concentration of bacteria that ends up on your food.
The first comes down to the floor itself. Entirely flat surfaces translate to more surface area that can come in contact with your food, meaning more opportunities for contamination.
Textured surfaces with cracks and crevices can reduce the amount of bacteria touching your food. That being said, the Journal of Applied Microbiology found that pathogenic bacteria still transfers to food within five seconds regardless of what type of floor it touches.
The type of food you drop can also determine the risk factor. “If the food has a lot of water or is sticky, it will collect a much higher concentration of bacteria than if the food is dry,” Le says.
A 2016 study from a food science team at Rutgers University found that moisture has the largest impact on the transfer of bacteria to your food. In their research, watermelon picked up more contaminants than any other sample.
The Journal of Applied Microbiology study came to a similar conclusion, with slices of deli meat picking up the most germs compared to foods with less moisture.
Should We Follow The Five-Second Rule?
Just like eating rare steak or raw fish, following the five-second rule involves an assumption of risk. The evidence is clear: food dropped on the floor, regardless of how much time it spent there, can become contaminated.
From there, your decision to eat food off the floor depends on your assessment of the risk.
“If you have a weakened immune system, the floor is visibly dirty, or the food is wet, your risk of getting sick is going to increase significantly,” says Le. “On the other hand, if the food is dry, the floor has been recently sanitized, and you’re in good health, the risk of getting sick is going to be decreased.”
But there will always be a risk. If you do choose to follow the five-second rule and eat the food anyway, proceed with caution.
You Might Also Like
-
Insanely Easy Weeknight Dinners To Try This Week
-
29 Insanely Delicious Vodka Cocktails
