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AIBU?

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Original poster

Kids accidentally 'poisoned'...

129 replies

staceyflack · 10/08/2018 09:59

Aibu to be really concerned that ex's GF fed children raw elderberries in a smoothie. Her child was sick (as was she)... mine has had tummy ache for 2 days. It was a mistake of course... but still.

OP posts:
Flowerylampshade · 10/08/2018 10:30

She's feeding her homemade smoothie.not crack cocaine. Sounds like she just made a mistake.

BertrandRussell · 10/08/2018 10:33

"I make elderberry cordial for the winter as well as it’s a powerful antiviral."
No it isn't.
But anyway- how come I've been eating them all my life with no problem? Is it a case of "the dose makes the poison"?

BertrandRussell · 10/08/2018 10:35

Ah-or is there a difference between American and British elder trees?

FishesaPlenty · 10/08/2018 10:36

I've eaten raw elderberries for the last 40+ years. Wasn't I meant to then? Confused

I gave my grandson some the other day, it wouldn't have occurred to me to check whether it's OK - it's just something you eat from the hedgerows, like blackberries, sorrel or ramsons. It was OK for me as a child, why would I check?

CaveyLass · 10/08/2018 10:39

Research has demonstrated that elderberries are antiviral and perform as well as prescribed anti virals, but without the side effects.

BertrandRussell · 10/08/2018 10:41

“Research has demonstrated that elderberries are antiviral and perform as well as prescribed anti virals, but without the side effects.”

Link, please?

CaveyLass · 10/08/2018 10:41

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056848/

Allthewaves · 10/08/2018 10:41

It's really not something to make a big fuss about. She made a mistake. She probably feels awful - perhaps they didn't say as they knew you would create a big drama........

Faceisamess · 10/08/2018 10:43

I didn't know about elderberries either.

twattymctwatterson · 10/08/2018 10:46

It was a mistake. Presumably the kids are fine now. It sounds like you're pissed off that they aren't grovelling enough about it.

CaveyLass · 10/08/2018 10:46

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848651/

WizardOfToss · 10/08/2018 10:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wombat1a · 10/08/2018 10:49

Seems strange to me, we've been eating them for years, could there be something else they ate that caused the problems instead?

CaveyLass · 10/08/2018 10:49

There’s plenty of research that demonstrates the benefits of elderberries.

If anyone wants a recipe for a winter cordial, let me know.

Nesssie · 10/08/2018 10:53

She's feeding her homemade smoothie.not crack cocaine. Sounds like she just made a mistake. - This. She is probably mortified about what has happened. She made herself, her own daughter and someone else's child ill all because she was trying to make a nice smoothie.

Mookatron · 10/08/2018 10:54

Isn't the rule that if you don't know whether or not a berry is poisonous you assume it is?

I can understand those who've been eating elderberries raw with no problems but otherwise seriously, if you don't know, don't eat it!

chocolateaddicted · 10/08/2018 10:56

@CaveyLass I'd like some recipes please

FlibbertyGiblets · 10/08/2018 10:58

Yes Mook. Am just glad only myself made ill and no one else. But see my post above -re my thought process: elderflowers ok > sambucol ok > raw berries ok. Oops.

TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 10/08/2018 11:00

Cavey id love the recipe!

Mookatron · 10/08/2018 11:03

Yeah I can see that Flibberty but I bet you wouldn't give it to kids without a quick google!

toomuchtooold · 10/08/2018 11:06

If anyone wants a recipe for a winter cordial, let me know

Me too please! I knew they were toxic (DD2 was like a crash course in botanic toxicology, my own fault for letting her pick strawberries and raspberries out the garden, she thought anything red or purple was fair game) but didn't know about the antiviral home remedy aspect. I've got a tree full of them in the garden and DD1 asked me this morning if we could make something with them.

CaveyLass · 10/08/2018 11:06

You strip the berries off the stalks with a fork. Try to get as much stalk off as possible as they taste very bitter.

Give the berries a good wash. Freezing them helps to break down the cell walls, but you don’t have to do this.

Boil them up with a small jar of honey added and some sugar - use a light brown sugar to add some flavour as the white stuff is bland. Add according to taste and how sweet you want it.

Add a couple of cloves, some allspice and cinnamon depending upon what you like. Don’t add too much water.

Mash the berries up very hard with a potato masher. Once they’ve been cooking for around half an hour, drain the mixture through a fresh teatowel or a muslin cloth into a clean measuring jug. When it’s cooled, pour into sterilised glass jars or bottles. I use Milton to sterilise. Store in the fridge or a cool dark place.

Take one tablespoonful in some hot water - how much is up to you - each day.

I did these two the other day using last year’s berries.

Kids accidentally 'poisoned'...
CaveyLass · 10/08/2018 11:10

You get sediment in the bottom of the bottles, so don’t shake them prior to pouring out.

The berries can stain a bit, but the staining comes out in the wash, so don’t worry about that.

The honey and sugar inhibits bacterial growth, so it keeps well over the winter. Start taking around September onwards.

Make sure the berries are fully black and drooping as that means they’re ripe and full of juice. Try to harvest away from main roads due to pollution.