Experts bust common food myths, including one that half of all Aussies believe
Many Australians continue to believe in many myths surrounding food, even though research has debunked them, according to a new study.
Over half of Aussies who have experienced food poisoning or gastro incorrectly believe their illness came from the last food they ate.
The Food Safety Information Council said 51 per cent of Australians had this view, despite evidence suggesting that it is far from the truth.
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More than half of Aussies incorrectly believe they get food poisoning from the last thing they ate before their illness. Getty
"One of the most common myths is that it was the last thing you ate that gave you food poisoning, when in fact it could have been something you may have eaten many days or even months ago," Food Safety Information Council CEO Lydia Butchmann said.
It is one of many myths the council is looking to bust in Australian Food Safety Week.
This includes an outright rejection of the five-second rule, which most Aussies have most likely been guilty of.
"Bacteria don't politely wait five seconds to contaminate food dropped on the floor," Butchmann said.
"Don't eat dropped food as your floor will be contaminated from dirty shoes, by pets walking through and general day-to-day life."
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Mouldy food is not to be taken lightly, according to the Food Safety Information Council. Getty
Butchmann also said food doesn't necessarily need to be thrown out after its best before or use-by date, but also warned a "smell test" of food to see if it is off isn't a surefire way to guarantee it is safe to eat.
"You can get food poisoning from food that smells and tastes great," she said.
"Bacteria can grow quickly in food that has been left in the temperature danger zone - between five degrees and 65 degrees - with no change in the smell or appearance of the food.
"When food smells 'off' it is usually due to spoilage bacteria growing that probably won't make you sick."
She also warned that cutting mould from food does not guarantee it is clear of infection.
"Even if there is only a small amount of mould, some moulds make and release poisons, called mycotoxins, into the food that could, over time, make you very sick," she said.
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