It’s a common schoolyard rule that gets passed down from generation to generation. If a piece of food hits the floor, you have five seconds to snatch it before it becomes infected with germs and consequently inedible. But how much truth is there to this unofficial food rule?
According to Rutgers University scientists, it’s complicated. Wanting to demystify the five-second rule with scientific evidence, food scientist Donald Schaffner and grad student Robyn Miranda decided to test four different foods (watermelon, bread, bread and butter, and gummy candy) on four different surfaces (stainless steel, ceramic tile, wood, and carpet). After infecting the surfaces with a nonpathogenic strain of salmonella, they dropped food samples for various lengths of time ranging from less than a second to 300 seconds (and five seconds, naturally).
By the end of their tests, Schaffner and Miranda found that the likelihood of contamination depends entirely on these three variables—the moisture level of the food, the type of surface it falls on, and the length of time it stays there. Based on the findings they published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, there are a few things we can learn about the consequences of eating food off the floor. Surprisingly, they found that contaminants had the most difficulty transferring off of carpet while tile and stainless steel surfaces transferred bacteria the easiest. Watermelon, being mostly water after all, attracted the most bacteria while gummy candies gathered the least.
But don’t go eating gummy worms off your carpeted floors just yet. “The five-second rule is a significant oversimplification of what actually happens when bacteria transfer from a surface to food,“ Schaffner said in an interview with Rutgers Today, “Bacteria can contaminate instantaneously.” And, naturally, the longer a piece of food sits on a contaminated surface, the more bacteria-ridden it becomes.
So maybe instead of a catch-all five-second rule, what we really need is a rule to avoid eating food off the floor altogether, especially if it’s moist and the surface is sleek. That may not be as tidy a phrase, but it could certainly lead to fewer sick days caused by foodborne illnesses. By all accounts, that has to be more gratifying than a dusty cookie.
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Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.