Week 2: What do you think of the "5 second rule"?

It's time for me to start another inane question thread, so we're going with the 5 second rule. I think most people know about this rule. It allows you to eat food that you dropped on the floor. I've always wondered how true it was, but it's basically common sense. The food picks up bacteria if it is there on the floor. I saw an episode of Mythbusters and they did a good job. It didn't matter how long the food was touching the floor either. So, when was the last time you ate something that fell on the floor? For me it was a week or two ago when I dropped an ice cube on the floor, but I rinsed it off good before putting it in my glass. Come on... let's hear the excuses!

Um, i dropped a chip yesterday on the floor, and the cat licked it it was there for 10 seconds does that count??

I always say it depends on the floor... I follow the 5 second rule if it's in my own house (I know how often the floor is washed!)

I don't particularly have a problem with the 5 second rules as long as the floor is clean. That being said, around here if it's on the floor that long a cat has either licked it or run off with it to eat it.

I blow it off if it is something dry, but for something moist, to the dogs or garbage with it!

No one is going to want to come to my house for dinner now In most circumstances I would toss it BUT if it was a lobster or something expensive, I would pick it up, wash it off and try to cook the germs off again.

Watch mythbusters. They debunked the 5 second rule

Are you kidding? My dogs get it before I even know I dropped it.

Depends on the floor and the food. Generally, I agree with Wesley - if it's dry then I'll consider it, but if it's moist or wet, fugitaboutit! And it depends on the floor.

And I agree with Chris too - if it's expensive, it's getting eaten!

Originally Posted by valanhb

Depends on the floor and the food. Generally, I agree with Wesley - if it's dry then I'll consider it, but if it's moist or wet, fugitaboutit! And it depends on the floor.

And I agree with Chris too - if it's expensive, it's getting eaten!

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Wooooo, people are finally remembering my name!!!!!!

Thanks valanhb!!

Originally Posted by fwan

Um, i dropped a chip yesterday on the floor, and the cat licked it it was there for 10 seconds does that count??

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You didn't say whether you still picked it up and ate it after that Fwan. I sure hope not!

Originally Posted by LilleKat

Watch mythbusters. They debunked the 5 second rule

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I love that show. It was a really good episode that time too.

Originally Posted by captiva

No one is going to want to come to my house for dinner now

In most circumstances I would toss it BUT if it was a lobster or something expensive, I would pick it up, wash it off and try to cook the germs off again.

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I can see your point there, as long as it is something that can be washed off.

I just adore that show - always good for a laugh!

"I reject your reality, and substitute my own"

Ummmm, it depends . If it's BEFORE it's cooked, I figure the bacteria are going to be incinerated anyway and I go ahead and throw it in the pot (or skillet, whatever.) After? Uh-uh ... DH, however, says he believes in "Whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger ...."

Yeah, it depends on the floor. I'll do it with my own floor, but not anyone else's...

I loved the Mythbusters show on this! (esp Adam's little experiment on the toilet seat!)

While they did debunk the 5-sec rule, I figure my stomach acid is enough to kill off what little bacteria might be transferred to any dry food on my floor. As long as the floor's clean, I'll pick it up, dust/rinse it off and eat it!

It always reminds of the great line in that movie...where a chef (in a kitchen full of young, hip chefs) drops a steak on the floor, and everyone's running around trying to get it before five seconds is up, and once it IS finally up and back on the griller the chef turns to another chef and says, `Boy, thought we were gonna have to go to the ten-second rule'

*laugh* Great question. It depends on the floor and what it is. Wet food... uh nuh. Dry... maybe. Ice cubes? I'll rinse them off... (and have). And I'm a college student. Expensive food? You've got to be kidding.

Hmmm let's just say I know how often the floors are cleaned here, so uh-uh I ain't eating that! Used to give it to the cats before they had to go on strict diets. If I had a dog, I think fallen food is manna from heaven for them.

What kinda poll is this?? What useful or practical information could come of it?! I guess that's just Ryan, so whatever I'll go along with it.

I voted for the last choice.

I put that I'll eat it if it fell on my OWN floor; however, I feel that I need to qualify that and say that even THAT depends on how recently my floor was cleaned (and knowing me and Tiffany it wasn't that recently hahaha)!