Anyone whoâs ever dropped food on the floor has heard of the âfive-second rule,â which says that if itâs on the floor for five seconds or lessâĻitâs still good to pick up and eat.
Dr. Sermed Mezher takes serious issue with that concept. Studies show that harmful bacteria, like salmonella, can âlive on a floor for up to four weeksâ and can spread onto floor food âinstantly.â That said, Mezher says some floor surfaces are safer than others:Â
- On tile surfaces, food can pick up bacteria colonies instantly 99% of the time
- On wood surfaces, that percentage drops to 50% or less
- On carpet, less than one percent of the bacteria transfer instantlyÂ
So, if you insist on eating food thatâs been dropped on the floor, carpeted flooring is the way to go. Bon Appetit!
Source:Â TikTok/@DrSermedMezherÂ