(WZZM) -You've heard of the five second rule and likely have used it yourself from time to time. Now a new study seems to give some validation to that idea.
Biology students in England dropped toast, pasta, cookies and sticky candy on the floor and left it there for three to 30 seconds. Then they checked to see if two common bacteria, E-Coli and Staph, transferred to the food.
They found the bacteria was not good at moving from the floor, especially when food wasn't on the ground for long. The type of surface mattered too. Bacteria were less likely to transfer from carpet than from tile or laminate flooring.
This study doesn't mean you should invoke the five second rule every time you drop some food on the floor. Experts say it's still safer to just throw it out.