I believe that in part, the American concept of a 5-second rule comes from a notion of toughness. We perceive having the strength of will to pick up something that fell on the floor and put it back in our mouth means we’re tougher than other people. That’s why it’s often boys who first pick up on this idea and spread it to their children. And as a boy I was known for having a certain propensity to gross out people by eating things off of the floor, or worse taking food directly out of their mouth and putting it in mine. As an aside, there was a time in at summer camp when dared to eat a slim jim that’d been underneath the bunk for a week and had clearly been gnawed on by a rodent I finished it. (I didn’t feel so good afterwards).

But back to my theory, in America if you’re freaked out by dirt and grime you’re not tough, and what the American ethos values more than anything is…stoic toughness. The guy at the cookie stand probably had this thought of “Jeez lady, get over yourself. What you can’t stand a little dirt?” To each their own I say. Honestly, now, having worked at at a few restaurants, I’m a little more particular about what I do eat and from where, and the cleanliness of the place plays a part in that equation.

But that’s just my $0.02.

true that. When traveling in India, if at a roadside stall – I would prefer to eat at a ‘Vaishnav’ dhaba than a no-name eatery. There are more subtle clues when doing the assessment. If the proprietor is eating there, and seems to be on good speaking terms with the patrons that is a good sign. Frankly these rules hold good just about everywhere. Contemporary affection for farmers’ markets is reflective of the same sensibilities – and one draws linear conclusions on the quality of the foodstuffs based on one’s personal appraisal of the vendor. though we seem to be evolving towards an irreligous society, at least i am partial to products brandded with religious symbols and have gone out of my way to purchase yogurt branded with the star of david and paneer stamped with the ekonkar.

Vaishnava dhabas cook without onions and garlic which is an observance of the yogic, jain and vaishnava diet which many in India follow.

Even in the West, strict vegetarians will not eat at restaurants that cook meat because the veggie dishes will be cooked in same utensils of meat. Strict Hindus, Buddhist and Jain Indians are not the only vegetarians who are strict on this issue.

All said words for backside are equally correct.

In Tamil the only word I know for kundi is ‘soothu’ – there may be others.

Ever heard of reading the post? Sorry, couldn’t resist. Yes, I have heard of it. I wrote about it in the post above:

When I was growing up, there was no five-second rule; if it dropped, it got tossed, and yes, a “Chee! Dirty!” was usually uttered by someone in the vicinity, to commemorate the fallen.

http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2007/05/5second_dropped.html

You are the new Periyar!

i don’t know about vacuuming, but i do shampoo my drapes daily, and use a hair dryer on them. the carpet, just soap and a towel.

excellent point, and thanks for bringing it up. in fact, i don’t stop just at food, but extend this approach to another area where sanitation is even more important, medicine. i don’t go to hospitals because who knows which low-caste orderlies have handled the equipment? or might have washed the sheets? i don’t even trust modern medicine, because ever since they let those damn lower castes in, there has been an explosion of techniques of questionable hygiene – catheters? pig’s skin valves? implanted stents? it’s cleanest to just trust in my local high caste brahmin priest to invoke the mercy of the gods for me.

Awww, thanks Poodle! You’re a peach.