The five-second rule has been used for years to justify eating treats we’ve accidentally dropped on the floor – from sweets and chocolate bars to that scrummy portion of roast chicken.
And for doubters of this sacred rule, one scientist is ready to prove them wrong.
Germ expert Professor Anthony Hilton, from Aston University, believes food that has been dropped on the floor is usually safe to eat under the so-called rule.
He said that although retrieving food can never be completely without risk, there is little to be concerned about if the food is only there momentarily.
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Hilton will be demonstrating how the five-second rule works at The Big Bang Fair – a celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths for young people – which opens on Wednesday at the NEC in Birmingham.
He said: “Eating food that has spent a few moments on the floor can never be entirely risk-free.
“Obviously, food covered in visible dirt shouldn’t be eaten, but as long as it’s not obviously contaminated, the science shows that food is unlikely to have picked up harmful bacteria from a few seconds spent on an indoor floor.
The five second rule only applies if people are watching. Anyway, im sure that tortilla on the floor is fine. Ill put it in the oven a sec.
— MatthewZamorano (@Matt_Zamorano) February 25, 2017
Just spilled ranch on my bed and continued to dip my chicken in it and eat it…Five second rule???
— Elizabeth Palmer (@epalmer37) February 10, 2017
“That is not to say that germs can’t transfer from the floor to the food.“Our research has shown that the nature of the floor surface, the type of food dropped on the floor and the length of time it spends on the floor can all have an impact on the number that can transfer.”It comes as a survey of 2,000 people found 79% admitted to eating food that had fallen on the floor.
