To stick this gift in the freezer

[Creativebee]

I'm really here for the traffic, so not really an AIBU.
DS (who lives away) has had a Christmas gift parceled for his sister. He's asked me to wrap it as they don't do wrapping and I've just opened it to find its a 4ft teddy bear, which is bigger than DD.

Firstly I don't know whether to laugh or cry because I know DS, and this is more a prank on me than a gift for his sister.
Secondly, it's got stickers all over the packaging that it's from China and I'm really panicky about things like this because of bugs and mites etc (we're just getting over a carpet beetle infestation).

It's currently in vacuum packed packaging and I'm thinking if I stick it in the freezer overnight it might kill anything that might be lurking in it.

Will overnight be enough or will it need to be in the freezer longer?

Do I get DS an equally space hoarding gift for his birthday to repay him for his kind gesture?

I’ve been to China. Do I need to be frozen, and if so, for how long? 🤔 🇨🇳

This is one of the most strange threads I have ever come across.

If you put everything in your house that came from China in the freezer, then you’d need an industrial size freezer.

Why would there be anymore bugs in a parcel from China than any other country?

OP to assure you I have had many things delivered from China and they were extremely bug free

Leave your freezer for the food.

Bugs cannot survive 4 weeks being vacuum packed.

Why is your turkey still in the freezer though?
Did you have the teacher at school who warned of creatures in teddy bears and didn't tell you about food poisoning?
I honestly thought you were going to say you were worried it was a cheapo poorly made thing and that it's eyes were stuck in with rusty nails or something.

My turkey is still in the freezer. I was planning to take it out tomorrow. Is that wrong? I'm really not doing very well this Christmas.

Sweet Moses this is weird. And so, SO illogical.

I say cook the teddy and keep the turkey frozen.

Do I need to unwrap the Christmas presents before freezing them or can I just bung them in as they are now and take them out tomorrow night?

For everyone who has been worried about the turkey, it’s definitely out of the freezer (4ft bear still in the freezer). I am being serious when I say this, if anything comes from abroad (DS has ordered hoodies and t-shirts from abroad ok China) it all goes in the freezer before it can be used. After reading these responses I can see why it sounds odd but I really do have some odd fear of unknown bugs infesting my house. I mean what about Australia? They’re really strict with what you can bring into the country, isn’t what I’m thinking somewhat similar? Before anyone says it I know, I need to stop drinking, it’s finally tipped me

OMG why has half my post got a line through it

I just cross posted with you OP.

I am somewhat confused now..

. I am being serious when I say this, if anything comes from abroad (DS has ordered hoodies and t-shirts from abroad ok China) it all goes in the freezer before it can be used.

So are you only freezing clothes you have ordered from China, rather than clothes bought in the uk that are made in China?

Is it really a teddy or is that some kind of code word for a dead body?

For everyone who has been worried about the turkey, it’s definitely out of the freezer (4ft bear still in the freezer). I am being serious when I say this, if anything comes from abroad (DS has ordered hoodies and t-shirts from abroad - ok China) it all goes in the freezer before it can be used. After reading these responses I can see why it sounds odd but I really do have some odd fear of unknown bugs infesting my house. I mean what about Australia? They’re really strict with what you can bring into the country, isn’t what I’m thinking somewhat similar? Before anyone says it I know, I need to stop drinking, it’s finally tipped me

OP puts tee shirts in the freezer....

(Backs away quietly)

I promise you it is a teddy. Yes, anything that comes from abroad (DS has mainly ordered from China, although three years ago he ordered a leather jacket from Middle East and that went in the freezer too) goes in the freezer. I’m not just targeting Chinese goods it’s anything that’s ordered via Internet that’s not from a UK seller.

Jokes aside, and your phobias also sightly aside, this is is all showing up a strange fear/phobia of all things “forrin” - doubts about hygiene, bugs, awareness of cleanliness factors, belief that the UK is somehow superior to other far flung places - all quite Othering really. Meh. Do what you please. Funny I suppose in some way.

Right. But UK retailers sell products made in China. What's the difference between them ordering from China and selling to you and you ordering direct? Why do you not need to freeze all of the stuff?

Suffocated, frozen and boiled - can I suggest Rasputin as a name for teddy??

I suggest treating poor Teddy with a flame thrower. That should get rid of any bugs. Oh, wait.....

I’m not just targeting Chinese goods it’s anything that’s ordered via Internet that’s not from a UK seller.

That's my point. Why are you only 'targeting' things you have imported and not things UK sellers have imported?

It makes no sense. There is either a risk or there is not.

I’m not sure teentree but I think I might need help . You raise a very good question and I guess in my head I’m thinking places like next, George, TU etc. Do the worrying for me and won’t sell anything infested

InglouriousBasterd I love the name suggestion, very befitting

Are you aware that a huge amount of goods supplied to UK shops are from China and have been in a warehouse?

How long does it take for a 4ft vacuum packed teddy to reinflate itself? You need to take that time into account when calculating optimum freezing time.

Years ago I was told by a manufacturer that the containers and rail cars are the worst culprits for harboring weevils and that sort of thing.
24 hours in the freeze should do the trick.