My uncle used to tell me that every time a fly lands, it poops. It turns out, that's not true, but anytime they land on your food, they're more than likely throwing up on it.

In a recent survey participants were asked which critter would cause them to flee from a restaurant the fastest: Rodents, cockroaches, flies, ants or snakes? (Um snakes, bye). Sixty-one percent of respondents said cockroaches would do the trick, but scientists say that the real threat comes from flies, which carry twice as many germs. And it only gets more gross from there.

For starters, flies like to eat the things we consider revolting, such as feces, trash and rotting animal carcasses, to name a few. Because flies can't chew (who knew?), they have to throw up enzymes onto their food, which dissolves the food so they may slurp it up. So in other words, if a fly lands on your burger and wants a bite, he or she will puke on it.

Now that definitely sounds disgusting, but the real danger in a fly landing on your food actually has to do with the insect's body. When they land on all those dirty things, they pick off bacteria and viruses. Those germs get caught in their legs and the tiny hairs all over their bodies, and can be transferred in just one second. So, rather than letting a fly leave cholera, dysentery and typhoid-causing bacteria on your food, you should probably just toss anything they land on.

[via Test Tube]

Alyssa Fiorentino Senior Editor of Content Strategy Alyssa is the senior editor of content strategy at House Beautiful who covers home decor, design trends, and news.

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