5-second dropped-food rule debunked

From Boston.com: http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2007/05/5second_dropped.html

Good news for sloppy chowhounds - that food you dropped on the floor is still safe to eat 30 seconds later.

I’m thinking that 30 seconds is still a bit long – I mean, it apparently will be bacteria free for up to 30 seconds, but still. The “eww” factor! Picking up a tasty morsel of food off the floor covered in carpet hair and dust and … shudder