TIL the 5-second rule for dropped food is actually legit in some cases

Last week at a picnic in Austin, I dropped a slice of pizza on a dry concrete patio and grabbed it within maybe 3 seconds. My buddy who works in food safety said the rule only applies to dry surfaces, not carpet or grass where bacteria transfer is faster. He showed me a study from Rutgers that found moisture and surface type matter way more than the time window. I'd always assumed the 5-second thing was total nonsense, but now I kinda believe it for specific situations. Has anyone else tested this with different foods or surfaces at home?

2 comments

2 Comments

skyler4327d ago

My friend dropped a gummy bear on a public bus floor once and ate it anyway, said it was fine since candy is basically sugar which bacteria don't stick to. Turns out she got a stomach bug the next day and blamed the bus floor even though she admitted the 5-second rule is more of a gamble than a guarantee. I just stick to dry surfaces with firm foods like chips or crackers now, no regrets.

victorb1726d ago

Look, @skyler43, the 5-second rule is just wishful thinking for most surfaces. Honestly, a public bus floor is a biohazard zone. Gummy bears are sticky little traps that pick up everything. Your friend got lucky it was just a stomach bug and not something worse. Ngl, sticking to dry surfaces with firm foods is the only real way to play the game safely. Tbh, even then you're rolling the dice with your own gut.