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AIBU?

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Original poster

Horrified watching my aunt prepare today's lunch...

351 replies

user1477282676 · 02/01/2017 09:35

Just checking that I'm not being super sensitive! Was at MIL's today for lunch...Aunt was in charge of potatoes which were to be boiled and covered in garlic, butter and herbs.

Lovely.

Except...not.

I had to watch her as she put the butter etc in and using a selection of utensils, repeatedly lick them after she'd stirred the potatoes...and then plunge them into the potatoes again....good stir....back into the butter dish...more licking...back into the potatoes...then back into the butter...another good lick.

Boak.

She then, coughed into the pot for good measure.

Shock

This is a bit lighthearted by the way....she's not in her dotage or anything...60 years old and perfectly together...she knew I was sititng there watching.

I had been looking forward to a nice spud! I had to refuse them and eat meat and salad!

What gets INTO some people?

OP posts:
Gwenhwyfar · 02/01/2017 15:12

"Snogging strangers is an interesting one - I guessed it's all about frequency of risk. We probably think that once in a while"

Lots of people don't snog strangers at all and as Sparkling points out, when they do it's a choice. I suppose sexual attraction is a way of saying that you're subconscious thinks that person is healthy.

JustWoman · 02/01/2017 15:59

Buffets -double dipping vom vom, but my main concern is nobody washes their hands and while most only touch the food they want, they often touch others either by accident or by rummaging for bits they like, and Dave from up the road is using the very same hand he had down his jeans "adjusting" himself to move the fucking pork sarnies to reach the ham!?!?

But I've noticed it's common not to wash hands before a buffet and I think it's grim, even the people who leave their arses and genitals alone have been scratching their heads, ears, cheeks and even coughing into their hands.

If I wanted to exchange bodily fluids with so many adults I'd go to an orgy! At least I'd know who's bits I'm putting in my mouth instead of guessing who has made the pork sarnies taste like cock :)

JustWoman · 02/01/2017 16:09

Sadie - do people really lick their fingers after wheeling a shopping trolley round a supermarket? It's either the way I was brought up or it's the result of working for the NHS for eleventy billion years, but I would never do that- it's basic hygiene to wash your hands before eating (or use an alcohol gel at least).

Maybe not lick their fingers as such but I bet quite a lot will put hands to their mouths without realising, nail biting, finger to mouth when thinking what to buy and loads of kids will be in those folds seat things and hold on to handle and then suck fingers etc. Dh pushes our trolley and I hadn't thought about where the hands that have previously touched it have been.. Can't wait to tell him he's probably had cock in his mouth :)

TheOtherGalen · 02/01/2017 16:18

I totally just licked this thread then put it back into the forum.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 02/01/2017 16:27

I came home a week later almost a stone lighter

And that takes some doing on a cruise Wink Grin

Jaysis's mention of raw/cooked food prep reminds me to ask if anyone else has found French markets especially bad at this? I had to give up buying the wonderful ham from a local one on holiday, after watching them weigh both on the same scales too often; trouble was, my French is good enough to have explained why I didn't want it, but probably not adequate for the mouthful I'd have got in return ...

SirChenjin · 02/01/2017 16:58

Just - no! Keep your fingers away from your face and esp your mouth if you're touching things like trolleys, loo door handles, public keyboards and so on 😷

CherryChasingDotMuncher · 02/01/2017 17:03

YANBU I find utensil licking, double dipping etc revolting. I've worked in several professional kitchens where none of this happen and hygiene is greatly respected.

I'll never forget Christmas a few years ago where I walked past the kitchen and clocked my nan digging her hands (which ALWAYS had dirty nails) into the mash to get the lumps out 🤢 I immediately ran back to the table and said very quietly to DH "don't eat the mash" but the deaf bugger just said "you what?! Speak up!". In the end I text him 😂 There was a mountain of mash by the end, in easily put off my food with things like this and I didn't enjoy one morsel!

CherryChasingDotMuncher · 02/01/2017 17:08

Oh and for those like me who are easily grossed out by lack of hygiene (maybe it is an NHS worker thing as I am a serial hand washer before touching trollies etc) I'm going to share this with you, because I'm a bit evil...I once went to a Christening where, for the party bit afterwards, people were changing shitty nappies on the buffet table next to the vol-au-vents, because the toilet was at the other end of the building and they couldn't be arsed to walk that far. I wouldn't have eaten anything anyway as there was enough cat hair in the food to stuff a pillow.

You're welcome

MackerelOfFact · 02/01/2017 17:50

I'm OK with tasting, handling, licking and double-dipping in food that is still to be cooked (such as cake mix or a bubbling pot of stew) as any nasties will be killed off by the heat. I'm not so cool about it when it's food that's already cooked or doesn't need cooking.

Foreign bodies will always find their way into food and our main staple foods come from soil or from corpses, which are fairly grim and un-sterile. But it doesn't take a lot of extra effort to use clean spoons to taste.

Original poster
user1477282676 · 02/01/2017 20:59

Also it's not that I'm afraid of getting ill from this sort of thing....but it's just disgusting. That's all it is....I'm the least fussy parent....you know, I don't fret over my children playing with other kids at soft play or touching the equipment.

It was just the BLATANT nature of it! WHY would she assume that I'd be fine eating food that she'd sort of spat in?

OP posts:
Ubertasha2 · 02/01/2017 21:12

So gross, I could never eat food I'd known to be 'tampered' with, and I can't believe others admitting to double dipping etc- yuck!! I constantly was my hands when cooking- even when I cook for my dog- and use a separate spoon to pour food samples onto from my stirring spoon.

But OP, why didn't you say something politely or jokily to your aunt like "flaming heck, Sheila, we love you but not your germs! What shall we do with you, you flaming galah!"

I am on the ASD so maybe others wouldn't be this straight to the point?

Ubertasha2 · 02/01/2017 21:13
  • wash my hands
Original poster
user1477282676 · 02/01/2017 22:50

UBER if I said that to her, she'd just say "Ah shut up you fusspot!" and carry on, she's one of those tough, genuine country Aussies who don't really deal with any fussing.

OP posts:
cherrytree63 · 02/01/2017 23:51

Did anyone spot Martin double dipping in Eastenders tonight? Grin

beckybird1974 · 02/01/2017 23:58

When I take my kids to a party I will always get them to wash their hands before they eat. Never notice any other parents bothering though..... I also hate the double dip...bleurgh! My home isn't the cleanest but when it comes to food hygiene I don't take any chances!

CherryChasingDotMuncher · 02/01/2017 23:58

Double dipping always makes me snigger as it sounds vair rude. But I am a bit of a child Grin

Shitonyoursofa · 03/01/2017 00:07

I double dip if I'm just cooking for me and OH given we share bodily fluids and germs anyway, if I'm cooking for guests, family or not, then I don't.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 03/01/2017 00:11

We put our hands on a shopping trolley used by 346 people that week and then lick our fingers after eating a pastry on the way out of the shop, and that's okay

That's why I keep anti bac wipes in my handbag

Because I am disorganised I often end up doing food shopping when I haven't eaten all day and I'm really hungry. It would never occur to me not to eat something I had just bought nor would I bother washing or wiping hands.


Italiangreyhound · 03/01/2017 00:27

Yuck. Not nice.

INeedNewShoes · 03/01/2017 00:41

At best this is gross, at worst it is dangerous.

If someone cooking for me did this and they'd had peanut butter for breakfast I'd be toast.

And slightly less dramatic than that, if the spoon-licking host is harbouring germs they may well make their guest ill.

Just yuck.

I tend to put spoons in a mug on the side when I'm cooking.

Fluffy24 · 03/01/2017 13:15

cherry it's not just you, I think the term is also used in a more, erm, private activity though I may be wrong!

stumblymonkey · 03/01/2017 13:19

YANBU....this would make me want to retch.

There's no waaaaay I would eat the potatoes

I'm not exaggerating when I say that reading that people actually do this is making me feel a bit sick Confused

stumblymonkey · 03/01/2017 13:20

That's disgusting, I can't believe so many people actually do this! What the hell is the point of washing up then? Why not just lick the plates clean and put them back in the cupboard? Grim!

^^This

Original poster
user1477282676 · 03/01/2017 13:30

Monkey I know! The amount of people here who think it's fine and admit to it!

It's horrible and also very selfish. Don't be so lazy, you licky bastards.

OP posts:
littleshirleybeans · 03/01/2017 13:48

Disgusting.
I wash my hands frequently when cooking or preparing food.
I remember once at work, someone was putting out cakes for a staff tea. I happened to be there while she was doing it. She licked her fingers and then said, "Xcuse fingers!"
Jeez it made me want to vomit!
Not even Excuse! But Xcuse!
I've heard a few people say that. Drives me mad.
I wash my hands in the staffroom before I eat. No one else does. Ever.
And at our staff Xmas buffet, I made sure to put teaspoons in the dips so that people wouldn't dip the bitten off end!!! Puke!!!!
And don't get me started on people with pets who don't wash their hands!!!
I feel quite faint now!

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