Can You Eat Food That Has Fallen On The Floor?
It is quite common to eat food that has fallen on the floor after cleaning or blowing on it. You’ve probably heard of the five-second rule. However, is it safe or are we putting our health at risk?
Most people have asked themselves this question at one time or another. Therefore, in this article we will analyze why you should not eat food that has come into contact with the ground.
There are micro-organisms on the ground
Although you may not be able to see them, there are millions of microorganisms that live on the ground and in the soil. Some are harmful to humans while others are harmless. However, when food comes into contact with the soil, it becomes covered with these living organisms.
It thus creates a perfect food source for those pathogens to sit on. When you start eating the food that has fallen on the floor, many harmful elements enter your body that can cause infections.
An example of this type of bacteria is E. coli, present in some types of contaminated meat and in the intestines. Certain strains of this bacteria can cause serious gastrointestinal disorders, as described in an article published in the Brazilian Journal of Microbiology .
Washing the food with water is not enough
Many people wash the food with water before eating food that has fallen on the floor. However, clean water is not able to destroy possible pathogenic microorganisms that have colonized the surface of this food.
Therefore, cleaning food with water is not an effective solution to reduce the danger of bacteria present. It’s true that water can reduce yeast and mold populations a bit. However, it has no effect on the other micro-organisms. This is according to a study (link in English) published in 2018.
It is best to throw away the food that has fallen on the floor
If you’ve dropped any food on the floor, it’s best to throw it away. Do not eat it unless it is going to undergo a high temperature cooking process. You may be dropping fruit with the skin still on. In this type of situation, it is sufficient to peel the fruit and make sure that no peeling remains are left on it.
We recommend that you just throw away any food that has fallen on the floor, especially if you don’t know if the floor is clean. However, it is not the same as dropping food on the floor in the house. There you can guarantee hygiene in general, in contrast to the ground on the street.
The importance of food hygiene
People often don’t pay the attention to food hygiene it deserves. However, good food hygiene habits are crucial to prevent disease. Simple practices such as not breaking the cold chain or cooking food completely will help prevent bacterial growth.
Otherwise, you could be exposed to contamination that can cause gastrointestinal problems or other more serious conditions. We also recommend that you do not mix raw food with cooked food and use clean kitchen utensils to handle different types of food.
Good preservation and packaging methods are essential to limit bacterial growth. You should not forget that in developed countries there are a number of deaths every year from eating contaminated food. However, the death rate for this reason is much higher in developing countries.
Fortunately, in many countries there is access to clean water, which reduces the risk of contamination. Despite this, you are often exposed to questionable food hygiene practices, which can lead to food poisoning.
It is better not to eat food that has fallen on the floor
Unless the food falls on the floor in your home, or if you are going to cook it next, we recommend throwing out any food that comes into contact with the ground. That way you don’t endanger your health by ingesting micro-organisms that can be harmful to the body.
In addition, don’t forget the importance of maintaining proper food hygiene practices to maintain good health. Poor food hygiene can lead to food poisoning and in some cases can lead to serious problems.
