My parents unhygienic food practices

[sahknowme]

This is on behalf of my DH, as I'm used to it my parents eccentricities.

My parents seem to live in another world when it comes to food safety. They seem to be against refrigerating cooked meat. For example, they boiled a piece of preserved beef (a traditional dish), and left it on the counter overnight, warmed it up to a simmer then served it. They regularly leave joints of meat out on the counter for 2 to 3 days. Worst of all is the gravy which gets cooled to room temp, left overnight (on the counter), added to, reboiled, then cooled to room temp several times over the course of a week. They even do it to fish soup. We all have strong constitutions, so this doesn't affect us.

My DH is worried, because they serve food to their elderly parents, and to our 1 year old DS. He thinks I should have a word with them, but they are stuck in their ways and won't listen.

AIBU to let them do their own thing? Is this as bad as my DH suggests?

My DM is A*+ with food hygiene, but MIL hates waste to the point that she will reheat, use on the turn stuff etc. I drew the battle lines very early on in our relationship when I went to make tea and the milk curdled. I mentioned it and she said not to throw it out until she'd made the custard.

I told DH to get the keys as I was going to the shop to get milk. MIL told me not to be so fussy so I took the milk to the sink and upended the carton, then said 'ooops I spilled it.' She threw a hissy fit at DH while I was gone shopping but she never tried anything like that again with me.

She also hacks chicken carcasses in a way that means there are shards of bone in with the meat. DH and I always check the DDs before they eat.

An ex-friend leaves things on the hob for days and then reheats. Her and her DC have regular upset tummies (she'd take them into nursery the next day and be 'surprised' if nursery called and said her child had D&V) and she could never work out why they were ill so often.

I've had food poisoning (hospital canteen on a night shift) and you only ever have that once before you take a great deal of care. It took weeks to get over it.

This was common in the old days when fridges were small, meat would be kept in the ‘pantry’.

It sounds disgusting but your family seem to have made it to adulthood.

Sounds yummy

It seems mad when we have fridges but it is already cooked meat and boiling it up again will kill any nastiness

MIL insists on not refrigerating the remainders of the roast chicken after a Sunday lunch. We now know to swerve it once I spotted it being left under a tea towel on the side in the kitchen (in full sun) and not in one of their many fridges ...

Sorry but your DH is right, those food hygiene practices are really very dangerous! I supported a group of boys at catering college school year 2016-2017, where we covered food safety. The guidelines for food safety that have been put in place by the government, were put there because lots of people have become severely ill. The practises I use at home are less fastidious than these guidelines, however your parents practices are hugely below in a very scary way! Food poisening in children and the elderly can be deadly!

Did you frequently get food poisoning as a child? No? You’re still alive and well, as are your parents so I wouldn’t worry too much. It’s not gonna kill you or your kids.

Can’t you tell them there are “ new govt guidelines “ for food and babies and just tell them all the normal stuff to do. .

I am with your DH. I would not allow my DC eat there, I am not judging my parents are similar and they smoke, I visit but would never eat or drink there.

Are you not scared your DS could get food poisoning and die, or end up brain damaged. It has happened before even to adults.

My mum ate a cooked steak pie three days after putting it in her kitchen cupboard and wondered why she was very ill afterwards!

Omg this is my worst nightmare! My Nan, God rest her soul, once served me and my new husband frozen potato croquettes and other various frozen items, from the MICROWAVE! I couldn’t say no. She also kept her mayonnaise above the boiler in her kitchen.

Actually FairyFlake food poisoning can and frequently does kill.

Before widespread access to fridges, that is what people did with food. As long as boiled and not just heated up gravy should be fine. Meat if cooked and not heated up should also be okay. If a stew type cooked meat then again can be safe if boiled.How often were you ill with anykind of food poisoning when you lived with parents?

It's a very dangerous belief that food poisoning does not kill. It most certainly does.
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/food-poisoning-kills-420000-people-a-year-worldwide-says-who-report-a6759596.html

I'd eat it, but then I eat left overs up to 5 days including rice. We used to have ham and lentil soup left out for a 3 or so days growing up, I don't tend to get left overs though so it isn't something I've considered with DS..I'd probably let him eat beef/gammon that had been out for a day. Is the meat covered or just left out? I would struggle to eat something that had been left uncovered.

The only time I've had food poisoning was off 'fresh' yet severely under cooked chicken.

My MIL left a jug of gravy in the microwave , I found it the next day and it smelt awful and it was bubbling!

MIL told me not to be so fussy so I took the milk to the sink and upended the carton, then said 'ooops I spilled it.' Milk that curdles when you put it in tea isn't going to hurt you, and used with bicarbonate of soda makes the most delicious and fresh tasting scones. I'd be quite cross at anyone who "spilled" any of my milk which had turned.

And no, I don't get digestive upsets and neither does anyone in my family.

The world is full of prissy little snowflakes. I would tell them to marinade everything in disinfectant, just to be on the safe side.

Or, use that thing in your head called a mouth, and tell them, instead of us lot.

This site is getting worse, it used to have genuine and serious issues people wanted advice on.

It's sounds a bit gross but then I share sandwiches with my horse (she has a bite then I take one) and I haven't died yet!

SnowflakeSlayer Yeah, proper MNers debate foreign policy through a mouthful of maggoty chicken. This place has gone to the dogs, I tell ya!

Another reminder of how dangerous food poisoning can be - there's currently a big E.Coli outbreak in the US - caused by contaminated lettuce. So far 9 dead and over 200 reported cases...

www.freshplaza.com/article/195811/More-deaths-in-E.-coli-outbreak-USA

One thing is fecal contamination and the other is food left on a counter.

If you are careful with cross contamination, wash your hands properly, and wash most things that may have been handled or in contact with feces, then you should be safe.

That E. coli outbreak sort of vindicates us MNetters who wash our fruit and veg, though.

I wouldn't eat it. I'm not OTT with hygiene despite the fact I probably should follow a neutropenic diet and I kiss my horse/cat and don't wash my hands after stroking them
But I'm careful with food, I've had food poisoning once from raw milk, apart from that I've got a a stomach of steel but I follow basic food hygiene

Ok I don't want to sound rude, but doing a basic food hygiene course several years ago rrwllycooened my eyes to preparing food safely. What your parents are doing here is unsafe, unhygienic, and more than likely the food they are serving will be covered in bacteria. Your parents may not be aware that what they're doing is really unhygienic and poses a risk. Please speak to them as it's far better to contend with annoyance from them then to have your child seriously ill from preventable food poisoning.

That should read really opened my eyes.