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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Free fruit and veg in Reception - unpeeled carrots!!

91 replies

Bluehedgehog · 18/09/2011 00:49

My DD has just started reception and when I dropped her off, I noticed a bowl of manky unpeeled carrots for their free snack.
Apparently the teacher does not have time to peel them but they do kindly break the tops off and wash them but they are not scrubbed and still have the black lines in the peel (i.e. dirt). AIBU to think it is quite shocking to give young children carrots that look like they are ready to be fed to farmyard animals?! What about bacteria? pesticides? .
I am undecided about whether I should bring this up as an issue with the teacher or just provide DD with her own fruit and let them get on with it.

OP posts:

AgentZigzag · 18/09/2011 00:54

I give DD1 unpeeled carrots to take in for eating at break time.

I've never thought about any nasties on them.

She's been eating unwashed grapes as well what have I done to her??

madhattershouse · 18/09/2011 00:56

Agent they will morph into genetically modified children

festi · 18/09/2011 00:56

no need to peel carrots

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 18/09/2011 00:57

I never peel carrots, all the good stuff's in the skin for one.

madhattershouse · 18/09/2011 00:57

Which may be an improvement....if they are anything like mine

AgentZigzag · 18/09/2011 01:00

Nice one madhatters, can I order one with less backchat do you think?

mightusethread · 18/09/2011 01:03

DS has unpeeled carrots because that is where the good stuff is. If you bring this up with the teacher you will look daft.

Original poster

Bluehedgehog · 18/09/2011 01:04

good stuff like dirt and pesticides

OP posts:

mightusethread · 18/09/2011 01:05

If you keep your child away from all (normal) bacteria, when she does get exposed to it she will get sick, rather than just easily fighting it off like her body should be able to.

mightusethread · 18/09/2011 01:08

I am guessing that chunks of soil aren't hanging off the carrots with all stalks and roots attached? They having been roughly washed to get any pesticides that will be sitting on the surface. The little bits of dirts will do your daughter no harm, don't be silly.

LaBag · 18/09/2011 01:09

Am shocked that the majority (so far) think it's ok to eat something so obviously unwashed and dirty. I have strong feelings about this as I buy organic 90% of the time - but even then - it is washed by me.

If the teacher is so unfussy then I imagine anything else she brings in for the children to eat is going to be of the same standard but maybe not so easy to spot.

festi · 18/09/2011 01:12

but op said they are washed

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 18/09/2011 01:13

A little bit of dirt is good for you. And the carrot skins are definitely good for you.

madhattershouse · 18/09/2011 01:14

Agent if there was a gene that stopped backchat I would pay anything right now, 11yo son going on chavman. I have 3 younger..is there any hope do you think, or is genetic modification reserved for money making?? I have about 3 years before the younger ones get to this age..scientists help us

AgentZigzag · 18/09/2011 01:15

Have you got a rare type of DC who has never got covered in mud and goodness knows what else when they're playing outside Blue?

Judging by the state of DD1s clothes when she gets home, all they do at break time is roll about in the bloody stuff.

You tell them to wash their hands before eating and after going to the loo, but you can't protect them from all of the billions of bacteria that are just hanging around your house.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 18/09/2011 01:18

Do you peel grapes and strawberries too op ?

AgentZigzag · 18/09/2011 01:18

I wouldn't know how to put a price on the relief that would give me atm madhatters

Pesky scientists, get your fucking act together!

thecaptaincrocfamily · 18/09/2011 01:19

YABU! Sorry very precious imo. Children touch surfaces with bacteria on then suck their thumb, go to the toilet without washing their hands and then eat. A bit of soil will do absolutely no harm Mine like to pick up snails and worms and then before I know it someone has given them crisps to eat or something. Oh and I don't generally wash veg! since boiling it kills bacteria and the pesticides get rinsed off.

Salmotrutta · 18/09/2011 01:20

So you object to washed carrots?
How odd.
Immune systems need to be triggered by meeting a bit of dirt now and again.

festi · 18/09/2011 01:20

at the rate my dd picks her nose and eats it and scratches her fanjo nearly all day long, your PFB would be in far more danger sitting next to her than eating an unwashed carrot.

AgentZigzag · 18/09/2011 01:21

DD1 bites her nails, bleargh.

She gets that from her fathers side

ravenAK · 18/09/2011 01:22

I wouldn't expect the teacher to be prepping snacks anyway, tbh - don't they just arrive in the classroom, as prepped as they're ever going to be, from the school kitchen?

I usually peel carrots at home because I find the skins a bit tough when cooked, sometimes, but they're in a cotton bag hanging up in the food store & the dc frequently grab them for snacks.

I honestly wouldn't worry. Think how many germs she's ingesting when she puts her fingers in her mouth after using the climbing frame/PC keyboard/reading books - a bit of ingrained soil is practically sterile by comparison.

AgentZigzag · 18/09/2011 01:22

I do love a good fruit 'n' veg thread on a Saturday night

Salmotrutta · 18/09/2011 01:23

For a small fee I could have a go at genetically modifying your children folks

It may not work of course ...

Original poster

Bluehedgehog · 18/09/2011 01:26

interesting replies - entertaining so far and educational - thank you...

OP posts:

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