It can be disturbing to see a fly land on your food, but is it worth throwing away your dinner?
Now some people are saying goodbye to the so-called “five-second rule” after learning the raw truth about how the bugs actually eat.
A video recently shared on X (formerly Twitter) shows flies vomiting on our food before slurping up the pre-digested slurry.
“Flies can’t chew like humans, so instead they vomit a special type of saliva during your meal,” the video explains.
Social media users were shocked to discover that flies eat by vomiting a mixture of digestive enzymes onto our food before sucking the resulting slurry
Some people called the discovery ‘horrifying’, while others said it was ‘even grosser’ than they had imagined.
The video was originally created by YouTuber Zack D. Films.
Because flies have no teeth, they regurgitate a mixture of digestive enzymes onto the surface of their food.
This breaks down the food into a chemical soup that the fly can then suck up with its spongy mouthparts.
While this behavior is nothing new, social media users were shocked to discover the truth.
On X, a commenter wrote that the eating habits were “even grosser than I originally imagined.”
X users were absolutely shocked when they discovered how flies actually eat their food and called it a ‘new aversion’
“Wow, that makes it so much worse. Thank you!’ added another.
Meanwhile, someone wrote: ‘new new dislike unlocked’.
Amid the disgust, one commenter had a bigger question on his mind: “Does the five-second rule apply?”
Public opinion seemed divided over whether food was still good to eat after a fly landed on it.
On social media, many commenters claimed that it would not be safe to eat food on which a fly has landed because their vomit could contain bacteria picked up from elsewhere.
One commenter wrote: “Food that a fly has landed on to eat should probably not be consumed.”
Another commented: ‘Flies sit on poop all day. And they throw it on your food and particles from the feet are also feces.’
However, not everyone was so disturbed by this revelation.
One unflappable commenter even joked, “If digestive enzymes get into my food, I guess that will help me digest it too.”
And another claimed it was fine to “just remove the part the fly was touching and then continue enjoying your food.”
While it may be disgusting, fly vomit may not cause too many health problems.
If you are really concerned, simply remove the area where the insect has landed.
The greater risk actually comes from the fly’s feet.
As some X users have noted, flies land in all kinds of unpleasant debris that can cling to their feet and hair before depositing on your food.
A study from Penn State University in the US identified hundreds of different types of bacteria on house flies and blowflies from three different continents.
Some social media users were undeterred by the fact that flies had vomited on their food, joking that the digestive enzymes would probably help them digest it too
Experts say there is little risk of becoming ill after eating food on which a fly has landed, as long as the fly does not stay on the food for very long
Some of these bacteria were even capable of causing disease in humans if they spread.
However, Cameron Webb, a medical lecturer at the University of Sydney, advises that there is very little risk from eating food on which flies have landed.
In a blog post, Dr. Webb explains: “In most cases, seeing a fly on your food doesn’t mean you should throw it away.”
‘While there is little doubt that flies can transfer bacteria, viruses and parasites from waste to our food, it is unlikely that a single landing will set off a chain reaction that could lead to illness for the average healthy person.’
As long as you wipe the fly away quickly and don’t let it sit long enough for the bacteria to grow unchecked, there is very little risk of damage.
So even though it seems gross, the five-second rule should still apply.