Can You Still Eat Food That Has Fallen Down?

Food that has fallen on the floor can be contaminated by various microorganisms. Although some of them are harmless, there are others that are infectious. What you should know to protect yourself as best as possible!

It is quite common for us to eat dropped foods . You clean them superficially or blow them on briefly and then consume them. You may have heard of the five-second rule. But is it really safe or do we risk our health with this behavior?

At some point, everyone will probably ask this question. Therefore, in this article we want to analyze why you shouldn’t eat food that has fallen down and we will explain the reasons for it.

There are numerous microorganisms on the ground

Although you cannot see them, there are millions of different microorganisms living on the ground. Some are harmful to humans while others are completely harmless. When your food comes in contact with the ground, it is automatically covered by these living organisms.

For this reason, it also provides the perfect breeding ground for these pathogens that settle on the surface of the food. When you eat dropped foods, you will add numerous harmful elements to your body that could cause various infections.

E. coli bacteria , which are found in some contaminated meats and in the intestines, are an example of such bacteria . Certain strains of this genus can cause serious gastrointestinal diseases, as described in an article in the Brazilian journal of microbiology.

Just rinsing food with water is not enough

Many people simply rinse dropped food with water before consuming it. However, clear water is not enough to destroy possible pathogenic microorganisms that are on the surface.

Therefore, rinsing with clear water is not an effective solution for removing existing bacteria and avoiding the associated hazard. It is true that you can rinse off yeast and fungus cultures a little with water. However, this has no effect on the other microorganisms, according to a study published in 2018.

It is best to throw away any food that has fallen

If you’ve dropped food on the floor, it’s a good idea to throw it away. However, this does not apply if you boil, fry or heat them to a high temperature using any other method before consuming them. If you drop fruit with the skin on, all you have to do is peel it before you eat it. Make sure that you remove the entire peel and that there are no remains on the fruit.

Basically, we recommend throwing away any food that has fallen on the floor, especially if you do not know how clean the floor. Of course, it makes a difference whether you dropped something in your own home or on the street, because at home you know how hygienically clean your floor is.

Why food hygiene is so important

Some people do not pay enough attention to adequate food hygiene. However, you should remember that good food hygiene is a habit that you can use to protect yourself from disease. Simple measures such as an uninterrupted cold chain or the thorough cooking of food prevent bacteria from multiplying.

Otherwise, you could experience gastrointestinal problems or more serious illnesses from eating contaminated food. In addition, we recommend that you do not mix raw foods with cooked foods and that you use separate utensils for each preparation.

Proper storage and packaging of food is also crucial in limiting bacterial growth. Keep in mind that a number of deaths each year in developed countries are due to consumption of contaminated food. However, the number of deaths from these reasons is far higher in developing countries.

Fortunately , in many countries there is access to clean water, which reduces the risk of contamination. However, you are often exposed to dubious food hygiene practices that can lead to food poisoning.

It is better to stop eating any food that has fallen

Unless the food has fallen in your home or you are fully cooking it, we recommend throwing away any food that has come into contact with the floor. That way you don’t endanger your health. Because the ingestion of pathogenic microorganisms could be harmful to your body.

In addition, you should always remember the importance of good food hygiene in maintaining your health. Poor hygiene can lead to food poisoning, and in some cases it can cause serious problems.