what they did, they basically between zero to 30 seconds, they dropped cookies and toast and pasta, watched it from anywhere to zero seconds to 30 seconds and they found out that somewhere between zero to five seconds could be safe, but more than that, bacterias are going to come in and so after five seconds, don t touch it. moist food, such as pasta and cheese and other things attract more bacteria, obviously, than toast. and also carpet was safer than the tile. having said that, i also think that instead of five-second rule, it should be also a touchdown rule. meaning if you grab the food in the air, you re safe in my book. but if it hits the floor, it s over. i think there s too many bacteria, you have e. coli, sam mow nell la, forget it. one problem with this, and i come out with david on this, too. it s something i would never recommend, even if it s a cookie which doesn t pick up a lot of