What's the REAL second rule?

[D'Snowth]

You how a lot of people say that if you drop food on the floor, you can still eat it if you pick it up within a certain amount of seconds?

Well, for as long as I can remember, I was taught that it was "the ten-second-rule", but a few months ago, I heard other people say it was "the five-second-rule" (and even heard about it on the news, now I just saw a Burger King commercial with Homer Simpson and he said it was "the three-second-rule", meanwhile my mom tells me it's the "no second rule" (as it, you can't eat it at all the second it hits the floor).

So, what do you all think it is? Ten seconds? Five seconds? Three seconds? Nothing?

 

[Skye]

I've always gone with the no second rule. I'll take my food with no floor on it, thank you!

 

[Winslow Leach]

The REAL second rule: DO NOT TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB!

Er...wrong topic...

Personally, I've always heard of the five-second rule.

Unless the food is round-shaped, falls on the floor, rolls across the room, collects a bunch of floor-grit and dust, and ends up in the corner. Then no. I wouldn't touch it...

 

[Drtooth]

I pretty much would eat something off the floor if it cost a bunch of money and it's in my own home. my Buck nineteen Japanese Import Anpanman choco-lollipops always seem to splinter when I bite them, and the pieces all fall on the floor.

 

[CensoredAlso]

Frankly, I never eat anything that's been on the floor, two seconds or five seconds! Lol

 

[SSLFan]

It depends if the floor clean or not!
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[anytimepally]

I've always heard five seconds.. but depending on what you drop, it probably varies.. I mean, if I drops a french fry, I've got dozens more, right? .. but if I drop a 10 oz steak, I'm probably going to get it and clean it up as best I can

 

[furryredmonster]

5? 10? 20? 30? A minute? I wouldn't care, I'd still eat it off the floor anyway...

 

[RedDragon]

5 seconds for dry foods (chips, cookies, etc)...I blow on it and brush it off (or if it is something like a hot dog, I run it under some water), but I'll eat it as long as the floor is not disgusting...

No seconds for wet foods (pasta, buttered bread, etc)...Don't care how clean the floor is, I won't eat it

 

[redBoobergurl]

I actually watched a special on this on like Mythbusters or the Discovery Channel or something and some students at a University tested the theory and found most foods did not start to develop bacteria until 30 seconds! Can you believe that? As for me, 2-5 and I'll sometimes still grab it but only if it's in my own house!