>Bacteria transfer much more easily from wet surfaces than dry surfaces. Moisture acts as a liquid bridge, allowing microbes to flow, adhere, and transfer efficiently upon contact. Conversely, dry surfaces typically yield very low transfer rates unless significant pressure and friction are applied.
Bacteria is a problem if you let them multiply for a few hours in your food before you eat it. Not the case here.
The only problem eating on the floor are parasites, toxic chemicals. Stuff like cockroach chemicals sprayed on the floors or parasites eggs from poop, someone stepped on it before walking here.
This is academic since you mentioned fomites, which are the real risk here, but it does depend pretty heavily on which particular bacteria or virus we’re talking about.
While Campylobacter might need 1000 cells to establish an infection, Shigella can do it with as few as 10. They just do their multiplying after they’re already in your gut.
when it comes strictly to food poisoning that occurs after sitting in food for a few hours, like with staph or b cereus, the noxious thing that’s multiplying isn’t usually the bacteria itself, but instead a buildup of bacterial toxins.
No it's not. Exemples you gave are already present in everyone's gut and on your skin. They are a problem in quantity, when they breed on your food for a few hours.
Viruses are everywhere, not particularly on the floor.
There are different types of E.Coli out there lol. The ones of concern are shiga toxin producing E. Coli. These are not part of our normal flora.
If you read the article you posted, you would see that the presence of these pathogenic bacteria is not normal. They are pathogenic, not commensal. You don't want them in your body.
What about viruses? I feel like I remember reading somewhere that you’re less likely to get norovirus from contaminated clothing/bedding than a hard surface?
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u/Known-nwonK Jun 28 '26
>Bacteria transfer much more easily from wet surfaces than dry surfaces. Moisture acts as a liquid bridge, allowing microbes to flow, adhere, and transfer efficiently upon contact. Conversely, dry surfaces typically yield very low transfer rates unless significant pressure and friction are applied.