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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have fed her DC unwashed strawberries?

667 replies

brilliantdances · 12/07/2021 17:19

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

OP posts:
MadeOfStarStuff · 16/07/2021 22:56

I agree strawberries should be washed but she was really rude to comment on it to you when you’d been doing her a favour having her child. I think next time she needed a babysitter I would be mysteriously busy.

aiwblam · 16/07/2021 23:24

I’d have wanted the strawberries washed but she was rude and I’d be unavailable the next time she wanted free childminding services.

Megan2018 · 16/07/2021 23:31

@Skysblue

We live near farms including strawberries and having seen the amount of pesticides they spray on I would never let anyone eat it without giving it a rinse… It’s been sprayed with poison people…

It’s awkward when you have a playdate and discover that you have completely different levels of hygiene from the other family, but yabu to feed unwashed food to her child and yabvvu to moan about her on mumsnet looking for validation over your own poor hygiene.

Do you honestly think water makes any difference?!
Mothership4two · 17/07/2021 04:08

Probably not @Igneococcus as, whatever the illness was, wasn't usually passed on like that, which is why everyone was scratching their heads. I just wish I could remember more details!

WeepingKitten · 17/07/2021 05:08

At work we have a bulk tub of chlorine tablets. We use it instead of bleach. The packaging describes it has a fruit and vegetable wash for professional kitchens. But it smells like bleach and acts like bleach. I would rather eat my fruit unwashed.

I have strawberries, raspberries and blackberries in my garden. I do give them a quick rinse with water. But I know it's not doing much.

Lovemusic33 · 17/07/2021 06:16

Yesterday I ate wild raspberries from bushes in tue woods, I ate them straight from the bush (bit not from dog peeing height). I forage a lot, there's some things I wash but not many 🤣, I have never been ill from it.

Washing with water isn't really going to remove chemicals that have been sat on the fruit for days/weeks, and using chlorine can't be good either, I don't want my food tasting like a swimming pool. I often buy strawberries and eat them straight from the punet before getting home or on a picnic.

Gubanc · 17/07/2021 06:41

All fruit and veg should be washed before eating, especially ones that grow near the ground to avoid bacteria like salmonella, toxoplasmosis etc.
Also just imagine a picking field, quotas and pay per pick rate. I bet you most men would go for a piss nearby and not walk to the portaloos (do those even have a proper sink/soap etc) probably by the field entrance/farm/office - and just go back to picking... no, thanks.

thegcatsmother · 17/07/2021 07:30

I wash lettuce, spinach, chard, kale, French beans, sugar snaps etc before cooking them, but I don't wash fruit.

Looubylou · 17/07/2021 07:50

It's not odd, the child shared freely that they ate some strawberries, straight from the box, in the car. Just a simple description of events. I would also immediately think, oh dear, unwashed then. I wouldn't mention it though. I think your friends response was rude.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 17/07/2021 10:11

Surely if you're cooking fruit/veg you don't need to wash it. The boiling water will kill anything nasty?

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 17/07/2021 10:13

How old is the DD, OP? (sorry if I've missed that piece of info). Most young children wouldn't go into details about eating the strawberries straight from a punnet unless probed, surely? My teenage DD wouldn't do that!

AdobeWanKenobi · 17/07/2021 11:11

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

How old is the DD, OP? (sorry if I've missed that piece of info). Most young children wouldn't go into details about eating the strawberries straight from a punnet unless probed, surely? My teenage DD wouldn't do that!
Be surprised if the OP came back tbh as she's not posted anywhere since Monday.
thegcatsmother · 17/07/2021 14:22

NewModelArmy My veg is from the local food hub, and come freshly picked, so I give it a wash to get the bits off and the odd caterpillar. I steam or saute most of it, and prefer it to be at least rinsed before I cook it.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 17/07/2021 14:27

That's okay then @thegcatsmother! Have to say I'd wash earth-caked potatoes before considering baking them!

thegcatsmother · 17/07/2021 16:42

I don't like the crunch of grit from the spinach on my teeth, or in my food!!

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 17/07/2021 16:50

Tempting though it would be to respond with something sarcastic, I think the better part of valour is discretion on this one. Silence is its own form of response.

I'd certainly laugh at the silly woman if she ever approached me asking for favours in the future.

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