NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CNN) – Most of us have heard of the five-second rule.
That’s when you pick up dropped food within five seconds and you convince yourself it’s safe to eat.
Well, crazy as it may seem, scientists have done studies on this rule, and researchers from Rutgers University have debunked it.
They dropped watermelon, bread,bread with butter, and gummy candy on stainless steel, ceramic tile, wood, and carpet. Then they examined bacteria levels on the food, and for some of the items, contamination was instantaneous.
Researchers say the contamination level depends on how dirty the floor is and how much bacteria can make it from floor to food in a few seconds.
Here is some food for thought for floor food eaters. The next time you feel like using the five-second rule excuse, consider this, while the odds are in your favor that you won’t get sick, the food you are putting in your mouth is contaminated.