To Think That Blowing Out Candles on a Cake is Unhygienic?

[LizzieLoo28]

Its my daughters 21st birthday on Friday and we are getting a birthday cake for her, but since Covid came along and all the mask wearing to stop germs spreading, its made me think that blowing out the birthday cake candles isn't hygienic or at least eating a cake that someone blew their germs over isn't hygienic ?

What does anyone think ? Should I put candles on the cake or not ?

Cheers x

@YourFinestPantaloons

Also just popping on to say that anxious parents end up with anxious children. Please be a bit mindful of how your attitudes rub off on your kids before they become nervous wrecks over nothing.

You catch a cold or norovirus. So what. That's life, we get ill, and by human nature it makes us stronger.

Bit off topic, but I am fascinated by the norovirus outbreaks. I don't know if it's just MN or irl as well but sounds basically constant. I even asked my mum about it because i didn't remember anything like that from school (not uk) and she said we never had it outside of summer camps. Friends also said their kids never had that oitside of summer camps. How is it so common in uk? I was wondering about this sometimes.

You could give the cake a LFT before eating it, you know, just to be sure.

🤣🤣🤣

It always was a bit of a disgusting practice, therefore I've always put candles on a separate cupcake unless it was for very immediate family.
Can you imagine buying a vanilla slice in Greggs and the assistant blowing all over it?

@RuthW

I thought everyone had stopped blowing out candles since covid. I would eat any. Get a cup cake and use that.

I took DD to a 4 year old's party last weekend. Was chatting to one of the other mums about how ridiculous it was that people were getting weird about candles now and faffing about with spare cakes/clingfilm and wotnot.

Birthday girl blew out her candles as normal, everybody clapped, nobody was remotely bothered about it.

So no, not everybody has stopped doing this. I'm at a 6 year old's party this weekend. Pretty sure it will be the same.

We always rinse birthday cakes under the hot tap, after blowing out the candles, to clean them (with a squirt of washing-up liquid) .
Not the best idea that Grandad had, but we're stuck with it all the time he still lives with us... 🤷‍♀️

Yes, let's all put ourselves in sterile cells for the rest of time. We can communicate by semaphore.

At least everyone can wash their hands when they sing Happy Birthday.

I was once at a party (pre-Covid) where my lovely dad (in his 80s) blew his birthday cake candles out.

There was a stream of sunshine from the window highlighting little specks of dust in the air.

As he blew the candles, the particles of spit going everywhere was a sight to behold.

He didn't quite manage to get all the candles, so went in for a second blow...

I just couldn't bring myself to eat a slice of that cake.

Restaurants are really quite gross when you think about it, you have to not think about it, cos plenty of chefs and waiting staff have poo under their fingernails. Bleurgh.

Do they?! Ate restaurant staff renowned for sticking their fingers in poo?

I waitressed as a student in various places, all of which ensured regular hand washing and no poo fingernails from what I remember. But it was very shouty in every restaurant, it had to be. So no doubt lots of spittle flying around

@Annoyedanddissapointed i used to work for the NHS and norovirus is almost always located back to being in a hospital ward. So if you haven't been in a hospital you've probably, at some point down the chain, caught it from someone who has. Infection prevention is a minefield, but a good Trust contains infection well. When I worked on the wards, sick people would visit relatives and someone once who it turned out had norovirus (and knew about it) threw up on the ward floor

@RAFHercules

It always was a bit of a disgusting practice, therefore I've always put candles on a separate cupcake unless it was for very immediate family. Can you imagine buying a vanilla slice in Greggs and the assistant blowing all over it?

They've probably breathed on it.

Honestly I don't care about stuff like this. I can't curl my toes at the thought of a Greggs worker's breath.

Probably because I used to be a nurse and have had people literally vomit into my face before, I'm desensitised.

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

We always rinse birthday cakes under the hot tap, after blowing out the candles, to clean them (with a squirt of washing-up liquid) . Not the best idea that Grandad had, but we're stuck with it all the time he still lives with us... 🤷‍♀️

Assuming this is a joke

@trama

Yes, let's all put ourselves in sterile cells for the rest of time. We can communicate by semaphore.

Don't be ridiculous. Semaphore will result I shedding skin cells. Gross. Let's just stop communicating

Oh what a load of bolly. Just put candles on the cake.

My DD had a party here for her 19th birthday back in July. Lots of friends here and plenty of candles on her cake. We all sang Happy Birthday (unmasked), she blew them out and the cake was portioned out.

Everyone here on that night is still around now. Nobody has caught any form of dreaded lurgy.

I honestly don’t think it matters if it’s someone you’re close to and live with, you’re already sharing their germs every day.

I have only ever come across this concern on MN - it came up last year on a thread and I put it down to pandemic hysteria BUT irl I would find it very strange of someone did any of the ‘hygiene measures’ suggested. I’d assume they were exceptionally anxious. Also, who is spitting all over a cake when they blow candles out?!

[quote YourFinestPantaloons]@Annoyedanddissapointed i used to work for the NHS and norovirus is almost always located back to being in a hospital ward. So if you haven't been in a hospital you've probably, at some point down the chain, caught it from someone who has. Infection prevention is a minefield, but a good Trust contains infection well. When I worked on the wards, sick people would visit relatives and someone once who it turned out had norovirus (and knew about it) threw up on the ward floor [/quote]
Oooh that's interesting! Thank you!
And gross🤦

@AICM

This has been done for decades and nobody has come to harm.

But this is MN and as a pp has preached it's totally unacceptable despite millions having done it for years!

We are 90% bacteria. The world is covered in bacteria. There isn't a space between you and bacteria and the world - it's all one biome.

Who are these people blowing candles out like Pob anyway surely most people over about four can blow without slobbering everywhere.
If a fast exhale of breath is such a concern then surely you should stop singing happy birthday too, and don't have any fun in case of laughing but don't be too boring in case of yawning or sighing

In general, a few germs are okay, and between family I wouldn't bother at all. I might take the icing off if I'm eating a cake a friend's snotty child has spluttered on.

@YourFinestPantaloons

Mumsnet - the place where anyone who washes fruit or dares to worry about a virus that could strike down anyone regardless of age or health if you're unlucky enough, is considered joyless, over the top and in need of psychological help.

It's the melodramatics, like "strike down" - and FYI you MUST know by now it's not 'regardless of age or health'. Children are highly unlikely to have any ill effects from COVID and it's a bigger risk to obese people. COVID is not indiscriminate

Oh, so the young and healthy dead people.. faked their own deaths? Yes, young and healthy people die less, but why even risk it? And are we saying it's okay if grandma or fat auntie Sue dies after eating birthday cake? Really?

No. Anyone can die. Anyone can get long covid. But who cares, people need to be allowed to spit on cakes, clearly.

People seem to delight in ripping the piss out of anyone who takes precautions, @JesusIsAnyNameFree. I hope to God that they don't have children or CEV relatives.

Why are people comparing this to sex?