Of course it picks up bacteria. Bacteria are numerous and everywhere. But we've lived with them so long that we can deal with unsterile environments for the mos

Of course it picks up bacteria. Bacteria are numerous and everywhere. But we've lived with them so long that we can deal with unsterile environments for the most part. Most people for most of history were not germaphobes, and didn't even know bacteria existed. If eating something off the floor had a high chance of killing you, the human race would not have survived this long. Only bacteria that have evolved to infect humans really scare me. So in a public place I probably would not pick something off the ground. But in my own house, I know no one there had tuberculosis. In my life I've eaten tons of berries and stuff that grow outside or even on the ground, and have never had a problem.