Five-Second Rule

image courtesy of flippnjj via sxc.hu

Though not the first group of researchers to study the 5-second rule (where you deem a piece of food edible if it's been on the floor or ground only a few seconds), I have to give it up to our own Clemson University for being part of this important field of study. 

Basically, if you drop food it will pick up bacteria.  But whether those bacteria make you sick is probably dependent on where you drop it.  And let's face it, how many of us have eaten food off the ground or floor, and not gotten sick because of it?

For me, it's not how long it's been on the floor that determines whether I'll eat it.  The determining factor is what kind of food it is.  Twizzler?  Eat it.  Green bean?  Trash it.  Good piece of meat?  Wipe it off and enjoy.  Bread?  Not worth it. 

What do you think?  Do you follow the five-second rule, or throw away any food that touches the floor?