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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Argument over Billy Bear Ham

136 replies

Yebbie · 02/05/2022 18:20

DC had friends over for play date, I provided lunch (baguettes, cucumber, cheese and billy bear ham, apple and yoghurt for pudding)

Yes it's processed and gimmicky, we are all vegetarian in this house apart from my 3 year old, so it was the only meat we had and they asked for ham in their baguettes.

Friend fuming I fed her son Billy bear ham, very dramatic about it, don't you know what's in that? I'm not one for processed food particularly, but my 3yo loves the stuff and has an otherwise balanced vegetarian diet so what's the issue, in my opinion. AIBU?

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 02/05/2022 19:14

Is the friend her first child?

Oddfood · 02/05/2022 19:10

That would be the highlight of my son’s day if someone had fed him billy bear! It would definitely be the first thing he told me about a play date 😂
I never buy it but certainly wouldn’t be upset or complain if someone had been kind enough to make my son a lunch.
what’s wrong with some people?!

barkingdogturfwar · 02/05/2022 19:07

Is she never ever going to buy her child a McDonald's or KFC or anything like that? Or a slushy at parties, or sweets, or any of the other millions of things that are as bad or worse as billy bear ham?

Of course she is. Remind her of her ham based meltdown in the future when her pre teen is eating space raiders and drinking lucozade.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 02/05/2022 19:07

Moancup · 02/05/2022 18:47

What’s wrong with using meat carcasses efficiently? I’ve never understood this as an argument against processed meat.

Personally I don’t eat it because I don’t like the taste, just as I don’t like liver and sweetbreads. But in theory I think hosing up meat mush and shaping it into a form that pleases a three year old is a great spin on nose to tail eating.

It’s the processing that the hosed off bits have to undergo to make them palatable, I think. Excess salt, sugar, preservatives etc.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 02/05/2022 19:05

FGS, it’s a load of old shite but it was a one off. The other parent should’ve just let it go if there were no genuine dietary reasons why the child couldn’t eat it (veggie or non-pork for eg)

sHREDDIES19 · 02/05/2022 19:03

But presumably the mum was ok with the other highly processed item, the baguette?! What an absolute tool. Ignore her ridiculous behaviour.

Witchesbelazy · 02/05/2022 19:02

My three year old with food issues related to his additional needs had billy bear ham every day for breakfast for a week with fruit and cheese as its the only thing that he'd tolerate 😂 so this wouldn't even register with me.

Maybebabyno2 · 02/05/2022 18:58

Yabu, dinosaur meat is so much nicer!

LightningAndRainbows · 02/05/2022 18:54

I can't buy face meat myself I just cant bring myself to do it it has a face.

IstayedForTheFeminism · 02/05/2022 18:49

My ex MIL told me I was cruel because I didn't buy dc Billy bear meat Grin

Moancup · 02/05/2022 18:47

Matchingcollarandcuffs · 02/05/2022 18:43

YWNBU to feed him but YABU to buy Billy Bear ham. It's made from the bus if 'meat' hosed off the carcass once the 'poper' meat has been removed. And use much higher in fat than decent ham.

Maybe friends was just surprised given you're all veggie that you had such a processed meat product?

What’s wrong with using meat carcasses efficiently? I’ve never understood this as an argument against processed meat.

Personally I don’t eat it because I don’t like the taste, just as I don’t like liver and sweetbreads. But in theory I think hosing up meat mush and shaping it into a form that pleases a three year old is a great spin on nose to tail eating.

diddl · 02/05/2022 18:46

Wow that's scary looking "meat"!

LividLaVidaLoca · 02/05/2022 18:45

I would love for the sort of life where I could be livid about somebody providing free food and childcare because they fed my kid “face meat”.

Ignore friend.

MyJobisNotOuting · 02/05/2022 18:44

Laiste · 02/05/2022 18:24

What is in it?

apart from Billy Bear

Scrapings

Matchingcollarandcuffs · 02/05/2022 18:43

YWNBU to feed him but YABU to buy Billy Bear ham. It's made from the bus if 'meat' hosed off the carcass once the 'poper' meat has been removed. And use much higher in fat than decent ham.

Maybe friends was just surprised given you're all veggie that you had such a processed meat product?

bellsbuss · 02/05/2022 18:43

I wouldn't give it to my children as whenever I see it it turns my stomach, but if someone gave it to one of my children I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

Laiste · 02/05/2022 18:38

Eldest used to like it when she was very small.

I will always remember my mother hollering right across Tesco (in her best Queen's voice) at DD ''[DD Name], do you want BILLY BEAR?'' when DD was about 10.

and DD nearly dying of embarrassment when everyone in the shop turned to find out weather indeed DD did want Billy Bear 😂

Kat1953 · 02/05/2022 18:37

She was very rude!

LoudingVoice · 02/05/2022 18:36

Your friend is rude to complain about what you fed the kids, it’s not the end of the world!

Wouldn’t be having their child over again, what a drama lama!

Brendabigbaps · 02/05/2022 18:35

Yabu to call it ham. It’s a version of luncheon meat/ chopped pork.

labazslovesliving · 02/05/2022 18:32

Its only luncheon meat type stuff not the most nutritious stuff but kids love it so cant see the problem the rest of the meal was good

Chilledchablis1 · 02/05/2022 18:29

My DD used to love Billy Bear . Recently I found some in a shop and bought her a packet . She is 35 !!

Podgedodge · 02/05/2022 18:29

Yes, YABU… for giving this any headspace.

Yebbie · 02/05/2022 18:29

Apparently little kids love Billy ham so much it was the first thing he told her when they got in the car.

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 02/05/2022 18:29

I wouldn’t worry about the bear ham, OP.
Or just let your mum buy it and don’t have it at your house at all.