Is it okay to eat something that fell on the ground?
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                According to a 2016 study by Rutgers University, bacteria can transfer to dropped food in less than one second. The popular “5-second rule” is a myth, so is it okay to eat something that fell on the ground? The answer depends on a number of factors, and the truth is more complex than a simple time limit.