43 replies to this topic

[Still Waters]

Quote

Who hasn't picked up a piece of dropped food from the floor, given it a quick blow and assumed it was still safe to eat?

To many of us, it is second nature to apply the age-old pseudo-scientific 'three second rule' on such occasions, telling ourselves we're safe if the food hit the floor only momentarily.

The idea that food is not contaminated if it is retrieved quickly has been believed for many years - but there has not been extensive proof that this is the case

http://www.dailymail...r-safe-eat.html

[and then]

It depends a GREAT deal on the floor in question!  Average kitchen where people mop weekly.... probably fine.  A hospital?  Don't even think about it.

[Timonthy]

If you're a germophobe or your parents we're over protective and didn't let you play in the dirt, I wouldn't try it!
Most of the time it would be harmless, it's more the stigma of eating off a dirty floor which stops people.

I do it sometimes It's a toss up between how hungry I am, how dirty the floor is at the time, the quality & type of food I dropped and whether it has any hairs attached when I pick it up.

[Star of the Sea]

Only 1/3 of Brits mop their floor once a week?   Nah not having that! Anyhow well done MMU... slightly biased as that's my daughters University and there is NO WAY I would eat food once it's been on my pristine floor

Edited by Star of the Sea, 03 May 2012 - 10:44 PM.

[spud the mackem]

Any floor anywhere contains millions of bacteria,some of them nasty little swines,who are hoping you drop something then pick it up and pop it in your mouth,and then they are on a free ride to invade your immune system,they LIVE  inside you and cause allsorts of problems.Just imagine that you went down the street to the shop and back,What did you step upon ?.Dried dog muck which you didnt see,rat urine which dried overnight,dried spit, etc..then you went back to your kitchen walked on the floor,dropped a sweet picked it up and hey,you got traces of all the above in your stomach,nice one....I hope you live to see the next new years eve...A survey suggested that the Top  number ONE place where bacteria live is not your loo,but your car steering wheel.....think about it,what did you handle today,a stair rail ? an elevator button ? a door handle ? but you washed your hands before lunch didnt you...!.I  apologise if this offends but I am trying to make you aware of the Invisible Monsters that can shorten your life...Enough said  ,bye

[Purplos]

How many people have died or gotten gravely ill from eating food that was on the floor for a few seconds? I bet not many.

[spud the mackem]

Purplos, on 03 May 2012 - 11:23 PM, said:

How many people have died or gotten gravely ill from eating food that was on the floor for a few seconds? I bet not many.

No statistics available on your specific question,but how many die per year through stomach ailments,bowel cancer etc,things that no one can pin down,but its not atributal to picking up food from the floor,its just not the right thing to do,why put yourself in harms way ?

[Chrlzs]

Mythbusters covered this quite well.  The answer naturally depends on how clean and dry the floor is, and the nature of the food.

It's about 9th video down here..

[Michelle]

Purplos, on 03 May 2012 - 11:23 PM, said:

How many people have died or gotten gravely ill from eating food that was on the floor for a few seconds? I bet not many.

There is that pesky five second rule.....if it isn't sticky that is.

[Purifier]

You know in the military, a Drill Instructor will make you clean a floor so damn well (often with a toothbrush), that he can eat off of it. I thought it was just an ol' phrase, but somebody actually caught one DI doing it.

Now that's hardcore man...haaaaardcooooooore!

Edited by Purifier, 04 May 2012 - 03:51 AM.

[JGirl]

if it's something sticky or wet then no. if it's a vegetable i'm chopping for dinner  i rinse it and it goes back with the rest
take more than that to kill me

[Englishgent]

As others here have said, it depends on the floor and whats dropped on it. Here, we have tiled marble floors which are easily and regularly cleaned.  If it's something that has not yet been cooked and can be rinsed, I dont waste it. If it's cooked food, but dry, I will eat it. (unless the dog gets to it first lol)
In Thailand we dont wear shoes in the house, ever,  so we dont worry about what germs we might have brought in on our shoes. It's slippers, or bare feet.  Bare feet?....eeewww...maybe I will stop eating dropped food lol

[spud the mackem]

I wonder what they blame when they get "the runs",it must have been something I ate ! I give up...

[Paracelse]

I've seen kitchen counters in restaurants I wouldn't eat from  

[Old Man Waffles]

hmmm... im a complete clean .:*FREAK*:. LOL i wont eat anything dropped on the floor, or anything that has hair on it. i only drink out of bottles and cover up my plate when i eat. i hate dust. and i live in a hella dusty house.