The "five-second rule," one of the world's most common food hygiene theories, has finally been supported by a scientist. British scientist and Professor Anthony Hilton of Aston University said in a conference that it is highly unlikely that food could grow bacteria during a few seconds of being on the floor.He claimed that food dropped on the floor can be eaten if it is picked up very quickly. However, Professor Hilton further added that the possibility of bacteria growth varies according to the food's type as well as the condition of the floor.The "five-second rule" suggests that there is a five-second window to pick up food after it has been dropped and exposed to contamination.Over the years, the myth has been studied by scientists, but there have been no concrete scientific results to back this belief. Despite the lack of definitive data, a study carried out with 2,000 subjects in the U.K. showed that 79 people out of 100 eat the food that is dropped on the floor.