AIBU to throw out all food when flat 2 floors down had a fire

[MagentaHalfMoon]

I live on the second floor of a converted house (with my main flat door on the first floor and then stairs up to the actual flat). The flat on the ground floor had a fire yesterday, and their kitchen burned down because they left the cooker on. When I came home there was so much smoke in the communal hallway, called 999, they put out the fire. No one got hurt.

I am worried if any smoke could have gotten into my flat, as my flat door is identical to the flat door where all the smoke managed to get out into the communal hallway from the flat with the fire. When I checked the flat after they put the fire out, I couldn't see any smoke, but it smells burnt on the stairs inside the flat. I am tempted to throw out all food except the stuff in the fridge/freezer, but am I overreacting? Could smoke toxins have gotten to my food?

I have got plastic jars with lids for flour, sugar, cereals etc, spices, stuff in the pantry (snacks, baking powder, oils etc). Does it all go out, or AIBU?

You are hugely over reacting. Would you throw out all your food because there was a bonfire outside?

Please don’t waste food like this.

What Bright said.

Seriously weird

YABU absolutely no need to throw away food.

Throwing out food because of possible smoke contamination !?! I’ve bloody herd it all now 🙄

Eh?! Why on earth would you throw food out. Very odd.

No need to throw food out as others have Said.

Blimey.

Yab ridiculous

I'm guessing the OP never eats BBQ food.

Why would you possibly think you needed to do this? Genuinely?

Do you have an anxiety/health issue? Really this isn't something that would occur to a rational person.

Or smoked salmon.

Why? I just started googling and reading, and then I got worried.

www.ontla.on.ca/library/repository/mon/26004/317100.pdf

www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/emergency-preparedness/fires-and-food-safety/ct_index

www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/food-safety-after-a-fire

But that is good news that IABU, would be a nightmare if I had to replace my entire pantry.

You could ask the fire service.

But if I couldn't see any visible residue I wouldn't do anything. And I think your kitchen would have to be full of smoke for any significant amount to get into the cupboards.

When I had a fire in my kitchen last year I didn't throw any food out!

Is this an anxiety issue? Because logically you must know that the smoke won't have got inside sealed packages and containers?

No.

Definitely OTT.

Could smoke toxins

Could you explain what these are please and why you're worried about them in your food but not say, on your furniture or in your toiletries?

Do you have phobias and anxieties, OP? Because this is an extreme reaction to your neighbour's fire. Of course your food is OK.

@PatriciaHolm yes, I do have an anxiety issue. I have emetophobia, and serious food safety issues. I have a thermometer in both fridge and freezer and check it constantly (which I bet doesn't help my anxiety!)

Oh, I've just read those links and I stand corrected, apparently fumes can cross through containers and plastic packaging.

However, I really think that this is based on a fire in fairly close proximity to your food.

I'd be more worried that you can smell smoke in your flat, breathing it in from the walls is surely worse than it getting into your food?!

I wouldn’t throw food out in this situation and wonder if this sounds like anxiety possibly, particularly if you can’t smell smoke inside your flat. Our noses are very sensitive receptors! There was good advice to speak with the fire service though for their guidance which will hopefully reassure you.

Does your flat smell smoky?

If not I’d leave it.

But do you never burn food? What do you do when you have smoke in your kitchen?

You're definitely overreacting. If you find yourself eating something and think it tastes off just throw it out. It's not going to be poisoned and the only reason I'd suggest tossing it would be to calm your anxiety. It'd be a great waste of food.

The smoke didn't get into your flat-you said so yourself. Therefore your food hasn't been contaminated. The links you gave are specifically for people whose home have burned/been severely affected by smoke and chemicals. I teach food safety if that helps.