“Contamination” is relative. Dangerous contaminants are rare, so the 5 second rule (30 or more for chocolate) is safe, unless you are in a risk environment for parasites, etc. Dirt is harmless (just dust off sand to protect your teeth), and most bacteria and viruses cannot harm you with small amounts in the hostile environment of your mouth and digestive system (cold viruses, etc., are almost exclusively passed through the eyes or nose). I routinely eat dropped items, and never get sick. I do wash my hands often, to avoid passing germs to my eyes, ears, or nose.
Elves, however, probably already contain much more contamination than anything they’d pick up off the ground!
“Contamination” is relative. Dangerous contaminants are rare, so the 5 second rule (30 or more for chocolate) is safe, unless you are in a risk environment for parasites, etc. Dirt is harmless (just dust off sand to protect your teeth), and most bacteria and viruses cannot harm you with small amounts in the hostile environment of your mouth and digestive system (cold viruses, etc., are almost exclusively passed through the eyes or nose). I routinely eat dropped items, and never get sick. I do wash my hands often, to avoid passing germs to my eyes, ears, or nose.
Elves, however, probably already contain much more contamination than anything they’d pick up off the ground!