Licking the bowl.

[lurkerspeaks]

I was 'baby'sitting yesterday for a very articulate 9 year old.

I did what I often do in such situations - produce baking gear and instigate cake baking.

I was somewhat surprised when the time came and I offered up "bowl and spatula or beater" (to lick) to be told "Oh, you mustn't lick the bowl, it is really bad for you, we aren't allowed to at school/ child care".

I must confess in all my years of baking, almost exclusively with free range UK sourced eggs, sometimes even from hens I know, I have never once not licked the bowl (might explain the size of my hips..)

So am I being negligent? Should I let children in my care (baking with UK eggs) that don't have allergies lick the bowl!

Do I need to start asking for 'licking' permission from the parents... as it has genuinely never crossed my mind before.

Interestingly I spoke to the child's parents afterwards as I was bit perturbed - thankfully, they are both totally unfussed about licking the bowl and do so themselves but can't persuade their child to do so The influence of 'authority' adults obviously carries weight! However, I'm not sure how common this is and don't want to unwittingly piss any of my friends off when they leave their kids with me.

To clarify I know about egg allergy and salmonella but I am talking about healthy children with no allergies. A quick google has confirmed my suspicion that UK eggs are very unlikely to have salmonella but that imported eggs may be more risky.

www.lioneggs.co.uk/page/eggsafety

One can only assume that the professional environments either use cheaper eggs or have a blanket ban because of the risk of allergy (or maybe I'm out of touch with current food thinking).

WDYT?

I don't mind it myself (and let my children do it), but I also wouldn't find it strange or unreasonable for another parent to prefer their children not to (for whatever reasons).

For that reason, if I had someone else's child around I would either check with their parents beforehand or just not do it on that occasion (to be on the safe side).

UK chickens are vaccinated against salmonella (I think)

DD has always licked the bowl, pretty much since she was weaned.

I think the hysteria over 'germs' these days is mental. If we over disinfect everything then our children will have no resistance to anything. The over zealous approach to hygiene is absurd. And british eggs are totally safe anyway!!!! I encourage my children to play in the mud like I did, and lick the bowl and all the other fun mucky stuff that appears to be increasingly frowned upon these days. Other than bottles/teats, I didn't sterilise anything post 6 months. And i was extremely careful when it came to anything with raw poultry and washing hands after toilets and when out and about before eating due to obvious reasons. Maybe it's coincidence, but my kids very very rarely get sickness bugs.

Well I tell my children that they are not allowed to lick the bowl as it has raw egg in, then I shoo them out of the kitchen while I tidy up by licking everything by myself Pretty soon they are going to catch on to this.

So in answer to your query, my 9year old may tell you that she is not allowed to lick the bowl but it purely because her mummy wants to lick it too.

Hell, licking the bowl is the best bit.

I have vivid memories of baking with my mum when I was little. She went out to answer the phone leaving me with a full bowl of bun batter and a spoon to mix it up a bit more.

Needless to say, we didn't have buns that night.

I survived, and I've not grown feathers yet.

Licking the bowl is the best bit about baking cakes. I'm evil...i usually bake cakes when DS is asleep and when DH is out so I can have the bowl and the utensils all to myself

I wouldn't trust anyone who didn't lick the bowls/spoons/beaters! My friend never used to let her kids do it & I am sure they are emotionally stunted because of it

It's an integral part of growing up!

Must make cakes tomorrow....