Are you familiar with the Five Second Rule? Wikipedia states:

"The rule applies to foods that have fallen to the ground. Normally, customary rules of hygiene dictate that food that has fallen to the ground should be discarded, in order to prevent ingestion of disease-causing agents acquired from the dirty surface. The rule states that if the food is picked up within five seconds, it can still be eaten."

Let me state that for the record, I am not above the Rule. The only reason I have stopped actively practicing is that I have a dog. The Five Second Rule has given way to the Pug Rule, which states: "All foods that have fallen to the ground become property of the pug."

Today's New York Times has an article entitled "The Five-Second Rule Explored, or How Dirty Is That Bologna?," which gives the findings of an actual scientific study of the Rule at the University of Illinois. Long story short: five seconds is long enough for food to become contaminated from bacteria found on the floor. So next time you drop that cookie, maybe you should just accept the loss.