I love this vintage Japanese postcard & it got me thinking about a discussion I heard on the radio the other day. The topic was what the announcer called 'The Old Three Second Rule', that is if a piece of food hits the floor & is picked up within three seconds it is still, broadly speaking, edible. Now in my household historically we have adhered to the 15 second rule except in cases of unspeakable dirtiness, very unusual of course, (may I be struck down by a bolt of lightning).

Does the fact that we grant a 12 second leniency on the food make us less hygienic than the broader community, probably. What is perhaps more disturbing is that this family tradition hit the wall around the time my second child commenced solids - it has now become more or less the 15 minute rule. Am I alone here, does your child stash little tit-bits around the home for later consumption?

If you are one of the 3 seconders (or heaven forbid nil seconders) I honestly applaud you. You must be buying a kazillion rusks to make up for the ones that are flung on the floor but safe in the knowledge that hygiene standards have been met. For myself I am just happy that at certain periods during the day I manage to get some semblance of a meal into my children's mouths.

Love & sleep to you & the small people in your life. xx

Comments

[fumi_o]

yeah, I'm the 3 seconders.
I love that vintage Japanese postcard too. Little girl who is eating Mochi(aka Japanese rice cake)is so sweet<3 I think that she is standing on Ohitsu (aka wooden rice jar).

[angelique]

Funny you brought this up. I just read a report of a study that some scientists did on this rule to determine whether or not germs actually accrue as the seconds tick by. The conclusion: it depends. So helpful, huh?

[nicole]

I have to confess: about 3 years ago my neighbours introduced me to the 30 second rule, so a mere 3 seconds on the ground is almost as if it never left the plate at all.

Glad to meet you Nan, what a lovely blog you have! I am seriously excited to make some music for your little gals.