This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In the "Odd News" section of The Tribune on Sept. 13, there was an article titled "Five-second rule too generous for fallen food." I have thought for years that the five-second rule had been disproved and replaced with the more practical approach: Use your best judgment based upon the type of food that has fallen and the terrain to decide whether it's worth saving or not.

This is better (in my opinion) for a couple of reasons:

First, some foods are more likely to accrue residues than others, and some floors are less clean.

Second, and the more critical, is it encourages the natural stimulation of your body's immune system, therefore fighting the overuse of antibiotics and the war against superbugs.

I may not have any scientific evidence to support this, but I encourage everyone to think about the rule for both of these reasons.

Ian Pradhan

Salt Lake City