3 Second Rule

I have heard of this rule also but do not know where it came from either. I am not sure why it only takes three seconds to get it either. Germs are germs and if the floor has germs on it, it should not matter how many seconds the food was on it.

I don't go by either the 3 or the 5 second rule. I go by how clean the floor is and what it is that I dropped on it. If it was a stick of butter or cheese, for example, I would have to scrape off the entire outside of it before I would use it. And yes, I have done that before. If it is a corn dog, for example, that fell on the floor, it can be brushed off unless the floor is really gross and dirty. Basically, you don't want to eat anything off of our floor because we have too many people, kids and animals living here.

Haha what a funny topic. I eat off of the floor-if it's at home and I know my floor is fairly clean. I know it seems odd, but the germs really don't bother me. We eat germs anyway! And you really can't be hurt from eat a little dirt. Remember being a kid? We all lived with grubbing on stuff with dirty and sticky hands. Now I will not eat anything that I drop on the floor at a restuarant or outside-that's gross. There really could be bugs or germs.

Well, I only know one of my colleagues has this 3 second rule, but I didn't know there are many people practicing this rule, I thought he just set up this rule for himself. I don't follow the 3 second rule, but I will see where the food I drop. If it's in my own house, and I know it's clean, and the food is dry (so it won't stick too much dust), then I'll still pick it up and eat.

I could not do a "three second rule". It's just too gross for me. I do know someone though that had her burger (with the works) slide off her plate and down the wall to floor...she scooped it up, pushed everything back together and ate it. I lost my appetite completely. A friend of mine used to work at 3 different restaurants and he said that the managers actually encouraged the "three second rule" so they wouldn't waste food. That's a good reason not to eat out. [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STANDING STRONG IN MY BELIEFS**[/b]

Hi mzz663, Wow interesting, I have not come across this "3 second rule" before. For me, one important factor would be WHERE the food is dropped. If it is on my own dining table which looks relatively clean, I *might* eat it (or wash it with water first) if it is something I heck of a lot love to eat. But usually, I am quite paranoid... I will just dump the food.

It all depends on the floor!!! If it was the floor at my Aunt's place (no pets, no kids, no dirty shoes, no dust) it could sit on the floor for 10 minutes, or 10 hours, and still be safe (provided it didn't have to be refridgetated LOL) but here at my place? Too freaking mut cat hair!!! I wouldn't eat it unless I caught it in mid air.

Hehehe I often hear people say "oopss, it hasn't reached 3 seconds yet" whenever food fell on the floor and they quickly pick it up. I don't live by that rule. Germs are so tiny that the human eye won't be able to see them. People are unaware too that they move so fast that within seconds they can stick to the food that fell. I'd rather waste a few crumbs than risk my health because of a tiny piece that fell. I also wonder why it was coined 3 seconds. I grew up hearing that from people. Ciao!

I've actually heard people say 10 second rule instead of 3 like you said. Regardless, I don't live by any such rule. I actually saw an episode of Doctors the other day that discussed this. They said that the time doesn't really matter rather it really all depends on what kind of food it is (i.e. if it is wet or dry); where you dropped it (outside, kitchen, bathroom, etc.); and also what kind of surface you dropped it on (carpet, tile, linoleum, hard wood). I think that they made some really good points. Maybe you could look it up and watch it. They even went as far to talk about how age may affect the safety level of the food like how children have less of an immunity than adults. It was really quite interesting.

hello mzz663, I think you need to watch myth buster, they provide the information, that if you drop something on the floor it does not matter if it was 3 sec or 1 sec. The bacteria would have got to the food once it touch the ground.

I always went by the 5 second rule... I figured no harm could come out of dropping a potato chip on the floor as long as I shake it off first - of course, until I got Ecoli poisoning. Now if I drop food, I throw it out. Kinda of a waste, but safer. XOXO Busie

hi mzz i have to say i follow the 0 second rule, i don't want to eat anything that has fallen off to the ground, the moment it comes in contact with the dirtly floor is the moment is gets dirtly and there is nothing such as a 3 second rule, it's just an assumption people like to believe in or some sort of a convention... i would recommend not to eat anything even if you just dropped it a few milliseconds ago... or better try catching it in the middle of the air if you have good reflexes that is HEHE have a nice day mzz

No, I don't eat stuff I dropped on the floor. I watched The Doctors and they say bacteria gets on the food quickly. So I am just careful not to drop any of my food on the floor to eat. I don't have a really strong immune system anyway.