Friday, September 11, 2009

On Ham

On Ham

The other week, I was preparing lunch in our communal kitchen (twinned with Manila Municipal Tip) when I had a bit of an accident with somebody's pork products.

As I reached into the packed fridge for my tub of 'I Can't Believe It's Not Buttocks' – clearly marked with the words 'Beware of the Leopard' to deter gangs of food thieves – I dislodged a number of precariously-balanced items, which toppled to the floor with a splat.

The antique yoghurts were fine, as was the plastic container full of salad that was busily evolving into a higher life form. But it was what I found at the bottom of the pile, tumbling out of its shoddy packaging, that has led to my trouser-dampening quandary.

And the question I ask is this:

Was I right to apply the Five-Second Rule to the three slices of ham that left a damp, greasy ring on the floor of the kitchen?
Degree of Difficulty: I have watched my colleagues in the days since the incident. None have died complaining of an ill-advised lunch of hairy ham sandwiches.

Tomato Ketchup sandwiches - The Food of Gods.

21 comments:

Pseudonymph said...

First for 'I Can't Believe It's Not Botulism'

Donna said...

Adds to the flavour I say.

Do all the bugs add extra calories?

Donna said...

I sppose any resultting brown laser would sort that out.

Debster said...

Does the five second rule count when its not your food?

Technogran said...

The question to ask is did YOU have any?

Mary said...

Depends. This 'greasy ring' you mention. Was it still there two days later?
Gone = floors get regularly and thoroughly cleaned and therefore nothing to worry about.
Still There = oh dear.

Another important factor is how many steps there are between the kitchen and the building's letterbox, which I can only imagine is surrounded with the poo of well meaning - but poorly aiming - amateurs.

Aunty Brenda said...

With everything that's in ham, I'd be more concerned about the long-term health of the kitchen floor.

Technogran said...

Same here Aunty Brenda. It will surely have high blood pressure now

Erin said...

I agree with Aunty Brenda. The five second rule doesn't usually apply to meat products, but all the crap that's in processed meat probably means you're not going to be found out. I think.

Good luck. And how's the antique yoghurt doing?

Audrey said...

Five second rule?
If it's good enough for the deli counter at Tesco, it's good enough for me.

Audrey said...

Also, as a gesture of goodwill, you should leave a "please help yourself" tubberware container of shaved parmesan in the communal fridge.

Toni said...

Five second rule always works and just think, whatever germs they get (that hasn't killed them) will only help build up their immune systems! :-)

Astropoppet said...

I don't think the 5 second rule applies in this case, because a) it's not your food and b) as long as no one else saw it happen, it didn't happen

fremsley said...

I make a point of never letting anyone have an accident with my pork. Some things are just not done.

Scaryduck said...

"Tubberware"?

mark said...

Notes to protect your lunch from food thieves? Worry no more:

http://www.savagechickens.com/2009/09/protect-your-lunch.html

WrathofDawn said...

Yes, Tubberware. You KNOW what we mean.

Not only would it add calories, but also much-needed protein AND a crunchy goodness.

Richard said...

When I was at college in Rochester I had a flatmate who worked in a local diner. Apparently the 5 second rule didn't apply to their bins when they'd run out of lettuce

I misread the tomato ketchup sandwiches as the Food of Goats. I thought for a moment you were plugging. Bang goes my ego.

Invader Stu said...

did you apply the 'how clean was the floor' multiplier to the 5 second rule?

Audrey said...

Yes. "Tubberware". From back in the days when this blog was funny.

rashbre said...

I'm impressed that the three second rule has evolved to five. The rings on the floor are just a distraction.