You’ve heard of the 5 second rule, right? Where if you drop a piece of food on the ground or other potentially dirty surface (PDS), within 5 seconds it is ok to pick it up and eat it? Mostly a joke, but I’d like to analyze this further.
Let me introduce some factors that apply.
- [time] – The amount of time that passes, measured in seconds, during the contact between food and the PDS
- [moisture] – This is the single most important factor to the 5 second rule. Any moisture either on the surface of the food, or on the surface that it touches, instantly nullifies [time] as a result of a phenomenon that can be best described as “instant stickiness”
- [hardness] – The hardness of the food item can actually increase the [time] factor, due to less surface adhesion
- [location] – Importantly, the location where the food item contacted the PDS is important. Just think about it.
Examples:
Situation 1: You dropped a jellybean [hardness = good] onto a marble floor [moisture = false] at home [location = acceptable] for 3 seconds [time = acceptable].
OK
Situation 2: You dropped a jellybean from your mouth [moisture = true] at home [location = acceptable] for.. nevermind.
NOT OK
Situation 3: You dropped a sandwich [moisture = true] on the sidewalk [location = not acceptable], in the rain [moisture = true] for 1 second [time = acceptable].
NOT OK
Note:
- If [location] is ever a bathroom, it’s auto-fail.
- Anything outside for 24 hours is auto-fail.
- Taking something that previously failed and washing it under running water can sometimes make it ok to eat, given that it is not too porous and has a smooth, washable surface. For example, a jawbreaker is ok. A sandwich is not.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my logical analysis of the 5 second rule. Eat healthy 
If you enjoyed this post, Subscribe to my Free Newsletter!
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
This blog reminds me of the “On top of Spaghetti” Song, but I guess according to your “go/no go” logic, this is an auto-fail.
Lyrics:
On top of spaghetti, All covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball, When somebody sneezed.
It rolled off the table, And on to the floor,
And then my poor meatball, Rolled out of the door.
It rolled in the garden, And under a bush,
And then my poor meatball, Was nothing but mush.
The mush was as tasty, As tasty could be,
And then the next summer, It grew into a tree.
The tree was all covered, All covered with moss,
And on it grew meatballs, And tomato sauce.
So if you eat spaghetti, All covered with cheese,
Hold on to your meatball, Whenever you sneeze.