Expert reveals whether the five second rule is actually true

We've all been there... you've got a slap up meal in front of you and, BAM, part of it ends up on the floor. There's truly nothing more devastating.

Now, being honest, how many of you have gone on to pick up your floor flung food, touting the 'five second rule' as the reason it's acceptable?

Yep, us too. But is the five second rule real?

Be honest... would you eat these? (Credit: Getty)

Is the five second rule real?

Erm, bad news.

An expert is has just served a devastating blow for the clumsy eaters amongst us who live by this food hygiene rule of thumb.

“Unfortunately the five-second rule is a myth,” warns Wendi Lebrett, a respected board-certified physician and gastroenterology fellow, as per Food and Wine.

“There is no recommended safe time for food to be consumed when it has dropped on the floor.”

Big yikes.

The expert explains there's no universal grace period where food is okay to eat.

Even five seconds is too long for the majority of foods (Credit: Unsplash)

"Factors such as the type of food, surface, and existing microorganisms influence contamination risk, not just time," says Dr Kenneth Brown, Chief Medical Officer at KBS Research.

"While the rule might offer a quick solution, microbial science shows food safety is more complex."

Research has shown that salmonella has the ability to contaminate the likes of bread within five seconds, for instance.

“This speedy attachment is due to bacterial structures named fimbriae and pili, which act like biological hooks, making contact with and adhering to the food’s surface rapidly,” Dr Brown adds.

Meanwhile, wetter foods, like watermelon, apparently have a higher risk of bacterial transfer, according to a 2016 study by Rutgers University.

Even apparently clean floors aren't safe (Credit: Getty)

The uni also studied a variety of surfaces, and found that carpet typically contaminated food at a lower rate than the likes of tile and stainless steel (somewhat surprising when you think about the apparent cleanliness of a wiped down kitchen floor, compared to your carpet!).

There is some truth that the time a food item is on a surface affects the level of contamination, according to the same study.

So, basically, it's not completely ridic that the five second rule came into existence.

The problem is, that sadly five seconds is *plenty* of time for salmonella to cling to your fallen french fry.

Next time, it's probably best to just resign it to the bin...

Featured image: Getty