To have fed her DC unwashed strawberries?

[brilliantdances]

Neighbour will probably see this. Not sure I care. Perhaps she will see how silly she is!

She was desperate for someone to have her DD and I said I would, no worries, all fine.

Her DD shared a box of strawberries with DS today and long story short, she's picked her DC and her DC has told her this.

I have received a text saying ''Hi, thanks again for having Kate. Please can I ask though, next time wash the strawberries before giving them to her? They are dangerous if not washed properly and she could become so unwell. Would you really want that?''

I haven't replied and won't be. AIBU to have not washed them?! Would if I was at home but it was actually just a quick snack shared out

Goodness, I used to have a wild strawberry patch in my backyard, and would often pick and eat them right off the plant!

Presumably you hadn't sprayed a load of crap over them first? I'm quite surprised to hear people don't routinely wash shop-bought fruit and veg. I feel like a right fusspot for not wanting to fill my body with chemicals and other people's germs.

I’ve never washed any fruit or vegetables in my life and I’ve never been ill from them, her message was rather passive aggressive.

I have never ever washed a strawberry 🍓
I think her text is rude

Ignore her and don't look after said child again... she's pulling high rank on you to make sure you comply to her ever demanding wishes from now on

I would always wash them personally as sometimes they use pesticides and I always wash all fruit and veg. I once ate them unwashed and my lips swelled! However, if I were here I wouldn’t have text and said that as she should be grateful you had her child!

"Washingfruit and vegetables

Wash fruit and vegetables under cold running water before you eat them. This helps remove visible dirt and germs that may be on the surface. Peeling or cooking fruit and vegetables can also remove these germs." NHS website. Of course if won't kill off all pathogens and I don't think anyone is saying that it does.

I'd wash them, not only because of germs but pesticides. I'm not sure how much difference it makes, but I wouldn't enjoy them without washing them first.

I probably wouldn't have said anything to you about it, but I'd instruct my child not to eat them unwashed again.

I always wash fruit before eating it (unless it's one that you don’t eat the skin like bananas etc) but I don't think you'll do any damage by not washing it. I just prefer to.

Also sorry but this whole situation reminds me of the posh mum on The Catherine Tate Show. "But mummy, the strawberries weren't washed?" "WHAAAAAT?!"

It’s unhygienic to eat any unwashed fruit or veg. You need to wash off any pesticides that has been used. Plus they are normally picked by hand.
Strawberries are close to the ground and may have some bit of soil residues.

But most of all if you don’t care about soil etc you need to wash off any possible pesticides.

I would reply and say:

"Thanks, I understand your concern. Yes, it was a quick snack on the go. I don't believe there's a huge risk from eating a few unwashed strawberries from time to time but I do tend to wash fruit and veg when preparing food at home. Unfortunately life is pretty hectic and can't guarantee that all the fruit and veg I offer XXX will always be washed. I understand if this is important to you, however, so I can only apologize for not being able to guarantee this at the moment. All the best. "

My younger brother contracted paratyphoid from unwashed PYO soft fruit, prob contaminated with bird droppings. It was a long time ago but I suppose is still possible.

Tell her there won't be a next time

@VaccineSticker

It’s unhygienic to eat any unwashed fruit or veg. You need to wash off any pesticides that has been used. Plus they are normally picked by hand. Strawberries are close to the ground and may have some bit of soil residues.

But most of all if you don’t care about soil etc you need to wash off any possible pesticides.

Rinsing fruit under some water won't get rid of any pesticides or germs.

I was admitted to hospital from unwashed fruit.
It can be horrible.

YABU

Send her round to my house, then she could moan about them eating blackberries straight off the bush.

Wow, how ungrateful and odd. I’ve never washed supermarket strawberries, only PYO and the ones we have in the garden.

Strawberries from a supermarket will have already been washed.

As for washing off pesticides - rinsing under a tap won't remove them (think rain).

There'd be far fewer allergy sufferers if people weren't so obsessed with cleanliness.

Strawberries are one of the highest pesticide use fruits. It’s not about germs, it’s about removing the chemicals.

I’m Still waiting for the strawberry washers to tell me how to properly wash a strawberry. Considering hands need to be washed for 20 seconds with soap and water to be properly clean, how is rinsing under cold tap water doing anything other than giving you another a job to do?

I ALWAYS wash fruit and vegetables. Maybe because I’m East Asian? It seems to be mainly Westerners (from what I’ve read and seen with my own eyes) that don’t wash their food. Obviously you don’t scrub clean soft fruit. You soak them. You rinse hard fruits under cold water.

The only reply is “NEXT time?”

*I was admitted to hospital from unwashed fruit.
It can be horrible.

YABU*

Well I’ll be damned. Let’s all stop eating unwashed strawberries. Can’t possibly be safe if a singular person got ill

@HarebrightCedarmoon

Send her round to my house, then she could moan about them eating blackberries straight off the bush.

I've just done that an hour ago between rain with raspberries 😂

@Maryann1975

I’m Still waiting for the strawberry washers to tell me how to properly wash a strawberry. Considering hands need to be washed for 20 seconds with soap and water to be properly clean, how is rinsing under cold tap water doing anything other than giving you another a job to do?

I fill a bowl with cold water and vinegar...soak for at least five minutes. Google it

What a muppet

My kids pick and eat fruit off the plants in the garden/when out blackberrying. It doesnt get washed first! I assume a few bugs etc get eaten along with the fruit. Good protein....