Princess Charlotte, daughter of Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton, was spotted in an unusual situation on Monday (8/5). At a volunteer event celebrating the coronation of King Charles III, the 8-year-old did not hesitate to eat a biscuit she had dropped on the floor shortly before.
Although the situation has drawn the world’s attention because it is a member of the royal family, it is extremely common among children. But does it represent consequences for their health?
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The biggest risk, according to doctor Tadeu Fernandes, president of the Ambulatory Pediatrics department of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP), is that the food comes into contact with some type of putrefactive bacteria present in unsanitized soils.
defense mechanism
On the other hand, the doctor points out that the stomach is composed of an acid pH, capable of killing bacteria. “We have a defense mechanism against the entry of external agents”, says Fernandes. For pediatricians, more important than sticking to a rigid rule is common sense.
Parents should take into account factors such as the environment where the food fell, the cleanliness of the area and the type of food. But, contrary to what common sense thinks, the number of seconds the food remains on the floor matters little in these situations.
“The three-second rule is a random number. You have to have common sense. If it falls on the floor at home and it is clean, the child can pick it up and eat it. Now, if it falls on contaminated ground, where many people are passing and circulating, on the ground or on a lawn, where animals may have peed or pooped, there is a risk and it is not recommended to eat it”, details Fernandes.
In the case of Princess Charlotte, the pediatrician draws attention to the fact that the snack fell on a lawn with people moving. “Who passed this lawn? Horses, dogs, cats? Did you pee? It is a contaminated place and it is recommended not to eat this food”.
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hygiene theory
The theory of hygiene emerged in the 1970s, when the number of cases of people with allergic diseases had an important increase. Researchers have realized that over-cleansing can have an adverse effect on health.
It has been observed that the more hygiene a person has and the less infections they suffer, the smaller the amount of antibodies formed, diverting the immune system more towards the allergic side.
A classic example was what happened during the period of social isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic, when children stayed at home for two years, in total social isolation, without contact with other children in squares, schools or daycare centers.
“These children did not get sick and they did not develop immunological memory either. With the return to normal life, they are very sick, the offices and emergency rooms are full. Having contact with viruses and bacteria, without exaggeration, is important for the development of the immune system”, explains the pediatrician.
Food poisoning
In cases of food infection – where children may have abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea – the first step is to suspend normal feeding and offer oral saline solution to the child. “It is also important to seek out the pediatrician so that he can give the correct advice”, suggests Fernandes.
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The post Is it bad to eat food that has fallen on the floor, as Princess Charlotte did? first appeared on Metropolis.
