Oh fuck!! Fridge at at least 9 degrees, turkey inside.

[Flowersandhearts]

I have (diagnosed) severe OCD and emetophobia (vomit phobia) so this is a nightmare. We are staying in a holiday rental and I set the fridge to 2 degrees but someone turned it down to 'super' when the fresh turkey and pigs in blankets arrived yesterday morning, which frustratingly turns it up a lot.
I've been really busy and only just found out now. Items from the fridge don't feel cold and a meat thermometer is reading the air temperature at 9.5ish. I am so worried about food poisoning :-(

The rest of the family are not willing to forego our Christmas Dinner (I'm living with family so it's not my call to make and don't have kids of my own) but I think I'll avoid eating it. How likely do you think it is that everyone is going to get sick?

Oh god vanishingly unlikely. Meat doesn't go off instantly at 9 degrees! Cook it thoroughly, be fine.

It’ll be fine, you’ll be fine.

Super makes it colder faster on my fridge? Turn it back to 4 and keep the door closed. If everything is cooked properly it will be fine

I think its vanishingly unlikely that anyone will be ill (unless you go broadcasting the problem to them). Make sure everything is properly cooked through, and maybe just eat the roast potatoes if you're really worried.

Incredibly unlikely.

A fridge runs on average 5-8 degrees , if it’s over packed with stuff that can be stored ambient take it out. It’s prob full it’ll be fine

Stick it in the boot of your car/garage or shed. It’s colder out there than a fridge.

@Longdistance

Stick it in the boot of your car/garage or shed. It’s colder out there than a fridge.

Its 11 degrees in South Wales

A fridge shouldn't be at 9 degrees surely? Anything over 5 degrees has potential to grow bacteria.

I would eat lots of potatoes instead.

Can you cook it now? And reheat tomorrow?

Do not take the Turkey out the fridge , but make sure your fridge is not over full . If it is evict some other guests out the fridge , that can be stored safely elsewhere .Keep the Turkey in the fridge . And don't use the boot of a car . It is warmer in the boot .

Before fridges, people put food in their larder. That would never get as cold as a fridge.

Okay so top shelf is reading at least 16 :( so trying to insist on chucking that stuff out (to lots of upset).

Second to bottom is 6.5 and bottom (veg draw) is 7 but rising. Raw meat is in two lowest shelves, one of which is under 7, the other over 7. The frustrating thing is that this is an objective food safety issue but my OCD means that everyone is just pissed off with me.

Our Turkey when living at home never spent any time in the fridge but was kept in the pantry. Even after cooking it still lived in the pantry were it would have several visits my mum's stuffing has never been surpassed you could cut slices from inside the Turkey

Though there was one year the Turkey had something wrong with it but not sure what but blood was involved I think. My mother took the Turkey to my German to have a look and then decided to get rid of it by throwing it over the nearby bridge wall into the river below

What would you do?

Not German but Granny

To be fair, keeping opening the fridge to test the temperature in every zone of it isn't going to help keep it cool, is it?

Go to a garage or tesco and buy bags of ice to put in the fridge

I'd stop being silly, and have a lovely Christmas dinner. The food will be fine.

You acknowledge you're causing a lot of upset. Don't let this be your DC's crowning memory of you at Christmas.

I would stop freaking out, turn the fridge temperature down, take out any nonessential stuff and leave it closed for the rest of the evening.

you're not going to eat it raw - just cook it properly, it will be fine.

When I was going, our turkey was sent over in a box from the West of Ireland by my uncle. No refrigeration for about 10 days. We were never ill!!!

The frustrating thing is that this is an objective food safety issue

Not really OP. It's not OCD that's the issue here. The temp that bacteria can grow is between 5-65 which is why fridges operate at below 5.

Not objective, but fact. It's other people's lack of food safety hygiene causing this upset, not your OCD.

The temp that bacteria can grow is between 5-65 which is why fridges operate at below 5

And in the rare event that there are bacteria growing,ensuring the turkey is cooked thoroughly, right through, to piping hot, any bacteria will be killed.

I can 100% sympathise because I also have ocd and emetophobia so I fully understand your worry.
In the nicest way, it's your panic speaking. I've said everything you've said in the past when worrying. You need to take the lead from other people on this.
They've also assessed the risk and they don't want to be ill either so they wouldn't just take the risk.
No amount of reassurance will help and will only make it work so try and make a decision and then not go back on it.
Hope you're still able to enjoy Christmas