38 per cent of people admit to eating food that has fallen from their bowls Credit: Elena Elisseeva/Alamy
Posted on 03/29/2016 10:40:21 AM PDT by Red Badger
Many of us are familiar with the "ten-second rule" (also known as the five or three-second rule) - accidentally dropping food on the floor, quickly swiping it up and deeming it still safe to eat. But new research has revealed that this practice isn't as hygienic as we'd like to believe.
Researchers suggest that up to a third of us risk our health by eating dirty food as bacteria sticks to food almost instantaneously, meaning many of us could be ingesting household bugs such as E. coli and Salmonella.
The research, from cleaning technology firm Kärcher, found that 37 per cent of us would eat food that had been dropped on the kitchen floor, while 38 per cent said they would eat food off their living room floor.
The research also found that 49 per cent of us only use a broom to clean and 43 per cent rely solely on an air freshener, though neither method is effective at killing bacteria.
A further 59 per cent said they wait till they see visible signs of dirt before they clean, while 27 per cent admitted to waiting for a bad smell before they decide to take action.
Hygienist Dr Lisa Ackerley, said the "silent killers" in our homes can multiply from a single bacterium to several million after seven hours. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: "Regular small bursts of hygienic cleaning is more important than one big spring clean.
"Bacteria and viruses can’t be seen or smelt and are easily destroyed through high temperatures, meaning steam cleaning is perfect."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
38 per cent of people admit to eating food that has fallen from their bowls Credit: Elena Elisseeva/Alamy
I generally go with more of a 8-10 hour rule.
people have been following the three/five/seven second rule for centuries. no proof anyone has ever died from it.
if something is dropped in a barnyard or a dung heap or at a Democrat party hq (but I repeat myself) then don’t eat it.
otherwise, you’re good.
who actually believed this?
I tried that steam cleaning and all the wallpaper rolled up.
There are people starving in.... Wait.. mmm
Venezuela because of the beeb’n socialists.
I prefer the smell test myself.
If my dog is in the house - I ain’t got no 3 seconds.
Woof!
ROFL!!!
I have so many habits that make that look tame that I can’t comment negatively on it :)
You have the immunity system to prove it!.......................
Sis lives on a farm.Raises Border Collies,Sheep,Chickens you name it.
House is all tile cause of the animals.
She has a zero second rule
I have no ####ing idea!!! lol
my ex gf used to eat things after she dropped them. Hence the “ex” part
No one actually believes in the “3 second rule,” we just say it to make ourselves feel better about eating something off the floor.
Silly.
Yes, my dog will get it before it ever reaches the floor!.........................
It needed replacing anyways.........................
I always thought it was a joke. I guess it’s good that we lucked out and had a bunch of “researchers” do a “study” about it. We just can’t have too many “studies”.
People’s obsession with avoiding all forms of germs, is causing all of our problems.
The immune system is like a muscle, use it or lose it.
I prefer the color test, if it ain’t green or blue, it’s edible.
Doesn't register with me until I see mold forming. If I catch it early enough, I'll scrape off the mold and nuke it in the microwave for a minute.
I'll be 62 in May. I'll make an exception for moldy bread, though. If the mold is larger than a penny, it's gone.
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