The average person eats food that is washed up on the ground at least four times every month. However, a survey of 2,000 Americans found that 44% adhere to the adage “five-second rule.” Surprisingly this common maxim claims that there are five seconds before picking up food that has fallen on the ground and consuming it without thinking about hygiene.
Around 52% of respondents concur that they would increase the rule’s duration to 10 seconds in some situations. These locations include their house (63%), a medical center or hospital (55%), or a restaurant (55%), among others.
Everyone, though, has limitations. For example, for over two-thirds (63%) of people, eating food from the ground is never acceptable in public spaces, including restrooms (60%), airports (57%), and walkways (59%).
The study, which OnePoll carried out for Ecolab, aimed to determine how participants’ hygiene standards had shifted over the previous several years. Unlike the 58% who were worried before the epidemic, approximately 63% of respondents are now worried about hygiene when visiting.
The majority of respondents—50%—have improved their expectations for hygiene since the outbreak started. However, another 27% of respondents claim that their expectations are yet to change. Furthermore, 32% of respondents think their demands for hygiene will rise during the coming year.
But everyone has restrictions. In public places, including bathrooms (60%), ports (57%), and sidewalks (59%), eating food off the ground was not acceptable, according to more than two-thirds (63%) of individuals.
According to the poll, almost two-thirds of respondents (65%) agreed that outdoor activities are cleaner than indoor ones. When washing their hands, approximately two in every five people (37%) use a combination of soap and water and hand sanitizer, whereas 25% favor hand washing over sanitizing. If hand sanitizer stations are placed around a restaurant, store, or event, three out of five people are likely to utilize them. Sixty-three percent look for certain gatherings and places with clear cleaning practices, like sanitizing stations and cleaning logs.