grandparents and sell-by dates

[thirtysomething]

Just come back from my in-law's and wondering if other people have the same problem with their kids being offered food that is way out of date and how they politely decline! Mine were offered chicken of unknown date plus butter and various other dairy things way past their dates (some of which not kept in fridge at all). I try not to be too uptight about these things but I don't want them being made ill either - it gets really hard to think up excuses why they can't eat these things without causing offence!

[sb34]

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[Lisa78]

Never heard anything like this - its ridiculous. Have they never heard of e-coli, samonella (sp?) etc? These are things that can actually kill, we are not talking about an upset tummy - is it just their generation?
Mind you, I am one of those overly paranoid people when it comes to use by dates (don't worry about best befores though. I won't eat any dairy thats a day or two BEFORE its use by date, and meat has to be practically black!
I shouldn't worry about causing offence, just explain that you have heard cases of children been made really ill so you aren't going to chance it

[kmg1]

My parents are exactly like this too - it's a nightmare isn't it? Can you get your dh onside? I have always made a big joke about it, and go through the cupboards and chuck stuff out - but I can get away with it - they certainly don't take offence. (But we are Northerners, so are used to being pretty blunt with one another). At the table we (dh and I) always check dates on stuff - like jars of pickle, and just make a big joke if it's out of date. My parents are loaded btw, so it's not like they can't afford to buy a new jar of jam every month! I don't care what they choose to eat themselves, but I do care what I eat and what the kids eat.

In their defence, we had 5 kids at home, so I think they just got used to buying lots of stuff and having loads of choice, and they just don't get through it any longer.

[popsycal]

not grandparents but great grnadparents in law....
i always take bread for ds when we go....and insist on making his lunch myself!!
or we take them out for lunch....
and they buy in bulk.....the butter monutain is in their cupboard!!!

[sb34]

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[lyndsey66]

How old are your children? If they are old enough to take instruction I would tell to polietly say no to any meat or dairy products! Sounds like it would be safer!

If not - I owuld have a word with your other half and get him to say that the kids cant have the food (could be a bad idea - dont know your inlaws - it just might sound better coming from him than you as they are his family).

Failing that take food along and make out you were being a nice guest bringing stuff!!

[bobthebaby]

My ds has allergies and the food labelling laws here only changed a year ago. MIL still gets things out of the cupboard that simply say "flavourings and colouring" and not what they are. I don't eat anything there that is not in its natural state. I have taken to taking dessert myself as she just cannot comprehend that her margarine has milk in it. They gave us mustard last year that had a sell by date of 1997. Straight to the bin for that one.

[Marshy]

My MIL used to do this, until my step-ds (her grandson) took to reading the sell-by dates himself and announcing it loudly at the table if they were out of date, in that very honest and open way that only children can do! She soon stopped it after that!

[Essexwife]

I must admit my mum used to be terrible for this but is getting better since becoming a granny and having us all point out her errors. Her fave saying is " i don't how you all survived ". I don't see MIL often (once or twice a year) but one visit she asked if we wanted homemade soup and we said "lovely" and she got her saucepan from the garden step outside the kitchen door and proceeded to ladle it into bowls. Now sell by dates may be fairly new but fridges have been around awhile. I said to dh that apart from it being off and a million bacteria, there could be a slug in it or something (I like to dramatise). I sort of disappeared upstairs with dd to change a nappy and never returned leaving him to make his excuses.

[Marshy]

Essexwife - that made me hoot!
Have never actually tried slug and hope never have to, though have ingested green fur on bread before carefully spitting out. That was at my mum's though, and can be a bit more honest with her.

[hmb]

My mother once took out a bottle of larger that was 7 years (!) past it's sell by date, and had been opened and partially drunk!!!

[Chinchilla]

a larger bottle of what?

[Essexwife]

Isn't having a slug in your soup a problem then?

[iota]

mmmmm added protein

[Crunchie]

My MIL used to be awful with this, until one year we house-sat for her. When she came back half the food was missing from the cupboard!! Nowadays I just open teh fridge and chuck it out saying that I am sure she didn't realise XYZ had mould on it so.... after it was too late!!
Also now her other grandson, not my kids, has terrible allergies, so she has wised up, and is a lot more careful. I just couldn't understand having liquid cucumber in the fridge that was 6 months old!!