Failed to wash split peas before making stew, would you eat it?

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

Made a lamb stew on Sat, was planning on eating it tonight. Read the packet of split peas and pearl barley since, and they both say in bold letters to 'Wash thoroughly before cooking'

Why is this? And can I eat my stew, or is it not a good idea?

I'd eat it.

I thought those things needed soaking and rinsing though?

Apparently boiling for an hour and a half, rather than soaking, so we did that, but failed to do the washing bit.

Doesn't boiling just about kill all there is to be killed? I'd eat it quite happily WFHIS.

Would you like some stew, sayanything? There's lots of it!

I've been googling to try and find out why washing is important, and loads of sites make a big deal of saying 'Always wash split peas thoroughly' but none of them say WHY! It's most frustrating.

oh eat it

it is only to cover themsleves in case there's a pebble in it

I'm sure you're right - you know when you just get unreasonably worried about something ridiculous? That's me, this evening.

I'd eat it, the boiling would have killed anything lurking. Stews used to be simmering away on the hob for days, with extra bits & bobs thrown in occasionally. I'm sure it'll be fine.

I'd eat it, it's been boiled to death.

Ah, at last Google has turned something up:

"Dried beans are a product of the field and need to visually inspected for small stones, clumps of dirt and bits of foreign matter that are sometimes harvested along with the beans. Any broken beans must be removed as well, because they will not cook evenly. The easiest way to sort beans is on a large white plate. Place a single layer of beans on the plate and remove any unwanted items. After a little practice, this can be done very quickly. Some cooks sort their beans before placing them in storage containers so that they are ready to use at any time.

Next the beans must be washed. Place them in a large bowl or pot and cover them with four to six cups of water per cup of dry beans. (As a general guideline, one cup of dried beans makes approximately 3 cups cooked.) Gently swirl the beans in the water and remove any beans that float. These are hollow and will not cook properly. Pour off the water. If the water is particularly dirty, wash the beans again. Special care should be taken when washing split peas as their starches are exposed and will leach out into the washing water. The washing water will appear cloudy as if dirty, but it is not. Wash split peas quickly to avoid the loss of nutrients and flavor."

Surely if it had a pebble in it then the pebble wouldn't dissolve in the washing water anyway?

Anyway, I am over cautious wrt food hygiene, I wash all normal fruit/veg thoroughly. However if I forgot to wash any sort of fruit or dried item etc and then it was boiled for even 5-10 mins I'd definitely eat it, honestly.

Lol at your quote btw.

Next time why not consider Heinz beans on toast - no need to wash.

this is what happens when I get food ideas above my station

I tell you something though, it's bloody lovely stew Am tucking in right now.

The importance of washing dried peas, rice, beans etc. are because of the harvesting process. The threshing machine are made of metal and they do wear out leaving the fine filings in the food for you to ingest. We also get metals from hamburger, sausages as it is ground with a metal grinder which wears out. Hard to wash that out. At least we can help by washing dried vegetables.
Google “metal in my body”