Daughter has just eaten off chicken - help

[FancyAnOlive]

My dd (12) just ate loads of cooked chicken from an open packet in the fridge - she saw sell by date 11.10 so thought it was fine but it really stinks, it's definitely off. She's very upset, she's autistic and freaking out about being sick, worried she's going to die. Can I do anything to help her not get ill? I feel a bit panicky too - I'm normally very very careful with food and hygiene. Poor dd. Any ideas - presumably if she's going to get ill most likely tonight?

@BewilderedDoughnut

Processed meat is a proven Class 1 carcinogen (that comes direct from the World Health Organisation). I'd be more worried about that than a sell by date.

Geese @BewilderedDoughnut learn how to read a room...

If she is very distressed and worried that she is going to die, I would call 111 for advice, just to put her mind a rest.

@bathtimebubblebath this x1,000

Agree with pp, cooked chicken in a plastic pack smells rank anyway if you bother to stop and smell it... 99% she’ll be fine

It honestly smelled revolting though, I don't know how she didn't notice

How is her sense of taste/smell generally at the moment OP? Have you considered getting her a covid test?

My toddler daughter once ate an uncooked chicken leg that had fallen down the side of the fridge and festered for god knows how long. She was fine, not even an eggy fart, illness is not guaranteed.

As it's not officially out of date it more than will be fine, and just smells unpleasant rather than being harmful.

Use by dates do have a bit of leeway so it doesn't mean it's actually dangerous on that date either.

Meat sometimes does go on the turn a bit earlier than expected though which is why it's best to always check the state of it before eating.

Did you say it was Waitrose chicken? If so, she'll be fine and any toots (Waitrose customers do NOT fart) that may occur will be lightly lemongrass scented. The resulting stool will be perfectly formed and odour free. Be thankful it wasn't Asda chicken as that would produce farts even a Great Dane would be ashamed of, rivers of diarrhoea and an urge to announce 'Ooh, me guts/ringpiece' every five minutes.

@OwlBeThere

She might be fine, a friend in uni ate a raw, green chicken breast once: she didn’t do much as puke 🤷🏼‍♀️🤢

Why did she eat it? Was she drunk?

Chicken that smells is generally okay if it's in date. It's most likely spoilage bacteria not pathogenic bacteria. Things with spoilage bacteria are okay to eat - they just doesn't taste or smell so great and the texture may be iffy.

Ginger ale to settle her stomach.
Deep breathing to calm yourself down.

Sometimes the wafer chicken you get can be in date but still have a funny taste. I'd tell your daughter that when it was originalky cooked it killed all the germs.

A couple of things. You can't always trust a use by date. Some items aren't stored properly, and the use by date may misleading.
If a package is blown up before opening, that's a bad sign as it means bacteria is active.
Smell and taste are useful, but won't pick up all food poisoning.
Use by dates don't count if it says use without certain days, like pate.
Saying that, if you have eaten off food there isn't much you can do bar watch and wait it the time of throwing up has passed. Usually symptoms are mild. If you see any septis type symptoms, call ambulance.

@FancyAnOlive was she fine?

I hope she was ok OP?

Geese @BewilderedDoughnut learn how to read a room...

I though it was chicken, not goose...

She was absolutely fine! And very relieved. @ rotttiemum88 that was a good point, I've checked her with coffee and scent last night and she could smell both. But yes I should have thought of that. Thanks everyone for reassurance and tales of having eaten disgusting things and surviving...

@OwlBeThere

She might be fine, a friend in uni ate a raw, green chicken breast once: she didn’t do much as puke 🤷🏼‍♀️🤢

Good grief! Was she drunk?