5 Second Rule Quantified
Most folks are aware of the "5 second rule" for food -- if you drop food and pick it up within five seconds, it's probably safe to eat. How true is that? Do you use the 5 second rule of food?
It's no secret I'm a germ-o-phobe. Obviously that "rule" doesn't fly with me. Even more so after reading this article in the New York Times in the curious cook column written by Harold McGee. The article summarizes some old work as well as a relatively recent Clemson University study that quantified how badly food is contaminated when dropped on a dirty surface.
The bottom line is there's a reason I'm a germ-o-phobe. Check out the article -- if you drop your bread or bologna, pick it up and throw it away.
4 comments:
I too am a germ freak... but I am also a college student. I will eat off the floor ;-)
I better NOT read that article...
Hmm...What do you think about me picking blackberries right off the vine and eating them? Thats probably grosser than eating off the floor (which I do not do)hahaha
i'll read the article. but hey guess what... i have heard that a lil' dirt is actually healthy for you. I have done some research on the topic and i swear...my grandma used to ask me to go get her a grain of dirt from the garden so she can chew on it. she thought even just a speck would "heal" her...Yeah, maybe eating the dirt is in my genes.
Wait, are germs and dirt the same thing? lol.
I heard about that crash. Yikes. I'm of to read some news stuff about it....
I have also heard the adage you aren't really grown up until you eat a pound of dirt. I'm not sure if I'm ever going to grow up. :^)
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