The 3-second rule is well known and is used by many for orientation when their food falls on the floor. You can find out whether there is really anything in the rule here.
“3-second rule!” – Most of us have probably heard the exclamation before. The saying is used when food falls on the floor. The assumption is that this can still be eaten if it has been lying on the floor for a maximum of three seconds.
By the way: There is also a “5-second rule” that works the same way – the food may only touch the floor for two seconds longer.
The 3-second rule is very well known, but is it true at all? Researchers have investigated this question.
3-second rule: what’s your turn?
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Free-Photos)
A Aston University study from 2014 shows that the rule is not a complete nonsense. In fact, it could be shown that less bacteria adhered to foods that only lay on the ground for a short time than to foods that touched the ground for longer periods.
The study was conducted by Anthony Hilton, professor of microbiology at Aston University, and his biology students. They examined the transfer of the two bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and staphylococci to foods such as toast, pasta and biscuits. The individual foods were left on the floor for different lengths of time – from three to 30 seconds.
Whether and how much bacteria are transferred to the fallen food largely depends on how long it stays there. The type of floor also has an impact on how clean it stays: Surprisingly, fewer bacteria are passed on to the food from carpets than from laminate or tile floors, for example.
Remember: Of course, you don’t have to throw away every meal that briefly fell on the floor. Especially if it happens in your own apartment and not on the open road, you can turn a blind eye. However, you should be aware that there is always a risk of infection with bacteria. In very few cases, however, this has bad consequences.
The results could be a Study conducted two years later by the way, confirm again. Researchers at Rutgers University also found that food is more likely to be infected by bacteria if it is on the ground for longer.
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