Looks like we can’t eat food off the floor anymore. Researchers in a study co-funded by Clorox at San Diego State University have found that germs can in fact attach themselves to food within five seconds. The ‘five second rule, aka, the popular belief that it is safe to consume dropped food if it has been picked up within five seconds—-was invalidated when researchers deposited baby carrots onto various surfaces. Germs were able to affix themselves onto the carrots within five seconds of contact. There is no word so far on whether it has been replaced by the “four second rule.”
