Lifestyle

Study Shows That You Shouldn’t Eat Food That a Fly Has Landed on It Before (Even for Fewer Than 3 Seconds)

2017-11-29 , 5:11 pm

Last Updated on 2022-07-18 , 3:48 pm

Who belie)ves in the three-second rule?

You know what I am talking about, don’t pretend.

But for those who seriously have no clue what I am blabbering about, let me tell you about this three-second rule that will change your way of life.

The three-second rule is not backed up by any scientific proof whatsoever, FYI.

It is believed that when you drop your food on the floor and if you picked it up in a split second (or within three seconds), the food is still consumable.

Do I follow this rule?

Hmm, I play it by ear. It depends on what kind of food.

I can’t possibly be picking up ice-cream off the floor.

I sometimes extend this rule to flies as well.

Emphasis on the sometimes.

If I manage to shoo the fly away from my food within three seconds (or so), I would still consume it.

SWISH SWISH BISH.

I mean, it takes more than three seconds for a fly to spread its nastiness, am I right?

Well, the answer is a loud NO.

According to researchers at Penn State University’s Elberly College of Science, NTU and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, insects carry a lot more harmful bacteria than one would imagine.

Findings from the Research

The research was published in Scientific Reports and it focused on 116 house and blowflies.

The study revealed that they carry a myriad of harmful bacteria the likes of salmonella and e-coli.

The research also showed that the fly’s leg transfers the most microbial content (all the gross stuff that can’t be seen with the naked eye) from one surface to another.

Flies are a bunch of filthy ***** as they pick up bacteria from faeces and carcasses.

Did you ever notice how there are always maggots on a dead pigeon or mynah?

They basically feed, breed and lay eggs on them. It is like a 5-star hotel for them.

So when they are done with that, they will happily fly to the next location and “deposit” their gross stuff.

The study described them as the perfect “airborne shuttles” for bacteria.

“We believe that this may show a mechanism for pathogen transmission that has been overlooked by public health officials, and flies may contribute to the rapid transmission of pathogens in outbreak situations,” said Professor Donald Bryant of Penn State University.

Have you all witnessed a fly rubbing its hand like some villain from a badly produced animated movie?

Now, I know why.

It is plotting something evil and by that I mean it is dumping all the amassed bacteria on my food.

Featured Image: pattanachai w / Shutterstock.com

Study Shows That You Shouldn’t Eat Food That a Fly Has Landed on It Before (Even for Fewer Than 3 Seconds)

Findings from the Research

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