To think I’m definitely going to get food poisoning

[MrsMaow]

I’ve just eaten about half a slice of ham, it was well in date so I didn’t bother smelling the packet first and swallowed it before I realised it tasted really not right, kind of sweet and not like ham should taste at all.

I then smelled the packet and yeah, definite sweet smell coming from there too.

Tried to make myself sick straight away but nothing came up.

It was reduced salt ham so I can’t even attempt to reassure myself by thinking about the magical preserving powers of salt.

So - is it possible to escape food poisoning when you’ve eaten something that was definitely bad? If not, how long do you reckon til I’m sick, how bad will it be and how long will it last?

Any chance my 11 month old baby will understand and decide to let me sleep at night and relax during the day?!

Ham often tastes sweet to me. If it’s in date and has been refrigerated I’m sure you’ll be fine.

Lots of ham tastes a bit sweet
I'm sure you will be fine.

You'll be reet. We are way ott about food poisoning and off food. If it's in date it'll be fine.

Thank you for the reassurances 😀 I will try to believe that’s the case but I’ve had this ham before and it’s never tasted like this so can’t help worrying!

If I do get I’ll though, how long do you reckon til it starts?

Ham is mostly cured. I've definitely eaten ham which is 'on the turn' and been absolutely fine. Distract yourself and you'll stop fretting :)

If it helps, I've heard that Bruce Parry prepares for his trips to remote jungles etc by not eating ANYTHING that's in date! I've aten things on the turn loads of times with zero ill effects.

You need to chill.

If you stopped eating when you tasted a funny taste, chances are you'll be absolutely fine. Or you will have a bit of upset stomach and possible diarrhoea.
No need to jump to food poisoning immediately.

I'm a bit like a monkey, I always smell food before eating it. Probably a bit weird

What was the date on the packet and how long had it been open for? What type of ham? Cooked, cured, honey roast?

They will have changed the recipe, check for sugar content.

I once at sushi that was left outside during the night (I obviously didn't know)...
And yet I (for some miracle) didn't get food poisoning.

I have also been forced to spend a night very close to the loo after a buffet / eating from what should have been a perfectly above board cheese board.

So... Who knows what's going to happen in your case??

But the ham was in your refrigerator and within the date of consumption (those are usually quite conservative to be definitely on the safe side...). So yes, I agree with the PPs. You'll probably be fine.

You need to stop overreacting. It's probably fine, even if it wasn't you stopped eating it as soon as you noticed. Why jump straight to food poisoning??

You're not going to get food poisoning from half a slice of ham

You should be okay, a lot of ham for some reason smells sweet no. YADBU to expect your baby to allow you some peace

My DMs advice if meat smelt a bit off was to wash it in vinegar and then see if it smelt a bit better.

I'd have probably rinsed your ham and then grilled it like bacon.

But then I have a cast iron stomach. Don't try this at home.

Drink lots of Coca-Cola, if it can clean toilets and dissolve teeth it might kill the bacteria?

Thank you all, I’ll try to relax!

As for why I jumped straight to potential food poisoning - I’m the type of person that if I have a headache I worry it’s a Brian tumour, or to be less dramatic, a few sneezes as and I’m convinced I’m about to be hit hard with flu - a bit of a worrier when it comes to health stuff but I do feel much better about it now.

I meant brain tumour. Phone, WTF is a Brian tumour?!