Ever wonder if food that drops on the floor for five seconds or less is still safe to eat?

Let me provide some food for thought on this topic.

You may be familiar with the infamous “Five-Second Rule” — the one that suggests that food dropped on the floor is ok to eat if you pick it up in five seconds or less.

If not, you are in the minority since studies suggest that 70% of women and 56% of men have heard about it.

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The Low Down

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Studies indicate that mothers are more likely to invoke the rule than dads, and dropped cookies and candy tend to be picked up and refed to young children more than dropped broccoli and cauliflower.

Much as I want to tell you the five-second rule holds true, it does not.

A recent research study showed that bacteria such as E. Coli and salmonella can attach to food that is dropped very, very quickly, literally from the moment the food lands on the floor — especially if the food is wet such as a washed piece of fruit.

It is not a good idea to refeed your child food that has dropped on the floor even if only for a second!

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Why is it a bad idea?

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Even clean floors harbor bacteria, and germs can survive for a long time. Even though you can’t see the bacteria that can cause a problem with your or your child’s digestive system, they are present.

Since studies suggest that one in six people get food poisoning each year, do not increase the chances by refeeding dropped food.

Also, do not take your chances on this rule if you are pregnant or you or your child have a compromised immune system.

Adhere to the motto: When in doubt, throw it out!

So let dropped foods stay dropped and then discard them rather than refeed them to your child.

Hopefully, you’ll pick up on the fact that the Five-Second Rule is a myth and eating food that’s been dropped on the floor and picked up quickly is a myth-take you do not want to make if you want everything to come out fine in the end.

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Lewis First, MD, is Chief of Pediatrics at The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine. You can also catch “First with Kids” weekly on WOKO 98.9FM and NBC5.