To eat frozen fruit straight from the bag?

[Effup]

During Covid I've been buying frozen berries and then throwing them on top of my hot porridge in the morning! Delish!

But I've been told they can make me very ill unless they are cooked!

Is this right? AIBU to eat my berries straight from the freezer?!

[magicstar1]

If it’s the mixed berries then you’re supposed to heat them thoroughly / boil them before eating There have been cases of hepatitis and norovirus from eating them straight from frozen.

[hazelnutlatte]

Really? My kids are constantly eating frozen fruit straight out of the packet, I had no idea there was any danger in that? I'm off to look at the packets now!

[TeaAndHobnob]

I didn't know this.

I've been buying bags of frozen mixed berries for years and adding them to my breakfast!

[Paddybare]

I use them in smoothies, I’ve never heard that they should be cooked. Off to check the packet now...

[Bananarama12]

I make them straight into a smoothie, never had a problem.

[hazelnutlatte]

Just checked the packets. I have frozen blueberries, cherries and raspberries. There are instructions for defrosting, nothing on the packet about cooking before eating. I'm sure if they were unsafe to eat raw it would say on the packet.

[MinorArcana]

I’d never heard that they should be cooked!

We chuck frozen berries straight into hot porridge too 😋

[WaterOffADucksCrack]

I have to ask why you feel compelled to throw them into the porridge? Early morning anger management technique?

[BrunoMars]

Crikes, I brought these pre-lockdown in case of emergency and my kids have loved making smoothies with them & now are a staple in the freezer. Who would think you have to cook them first?!

[rainbowunicorn]

You don't have to cook them that is nonsense. If that were the case it would say so on the packet.

[loutypips]

I used to eat them frozen when I was pregnant. Never heard that they are supposed to be cooked!

[MinorArcana]

I’ve just checked all the packets of frozen fruit in my freezer.

All give defrosting instructions. Not a single one suggests it’s unsafe to eat them raw.

[Thecazelets]

We eat them straight out of the packet and have done for years. No warnings on the pack that I can see.

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

I always just pop them in a sieve and give them a quick wash. They are washed before they are frozen, but sometimes the water they were washed in can contain pathogens, especially where the fruit is grown and washed in a country where the water safety isn’t guaranteed/there are different safety standards. Obviously it’s pretty unlikely, but there have been cases where people have contracted hepatitis A this way so personally I think it’s still worth giving them a bit of a wash.

[Effup]

Lol anger management!

I just love the contrast of the hot and cold - little bit of honey and a teaspoon of almond butter delicious!!

I think I'll wash them in future

[Bridgeofpies]

Isn’t it sweetcorn that was the problem eating from frozen without cooking? We don’t heat frozen fruit after all it is often designed to go in a smoothie but always cook sweetcorn.

Interested to hear if we should be more careful!

www.gov.uk/government/news/listeriosis-cases-linked-to-frozen-sweetcorn

[Bridgeofpies]

Huh, a quick google reveals it can be an issue!

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.thesun.co.uk/news/6810599/hepatitis-a-warning-frozen-strawberries/amp/

[Effup]

@Bridgeofpies that product hadn't made it to the UK

[Effup]

But still I need to check my packets of frozen fruit...

[Euclid]

I would wash/rinse them but there is no need to heat them.

[Bridgeofpies]

@Effup i just googled frozen fruit, there were quite a few stories that was just one I picked at random. Scary! Maybe the UK has more stringent measures though! I hope so!

[vanillandhoney]

@magicstar1

If it’s the mixed berries then you’re supposed to heat them thoroughly / boil them before eating There have been cases of hepatitis and norovirus from eating them straight from frozen.

Not according to any of the instructions!

Mine just say to defrost thoroughly before using and to consume within 12 hours.

[Somertime]

One of my favourite snacks is frozen cherries so I hope it's not true.

[Cheesecakejar]

What a load of shite.

Sorry just being honest 😆

[Mcmole]

I've been putting frozen berries in my porridge for years....never heard that you couldn't use them like that!