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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be worried about food poisoning

27 replies

pinkrainbowsocks · 13/05/2022 21:52

I’m back living with my parents. There had been a raw chicken breast in the fridge since Monday. It was opened from the packet in a freezer bag. I didn’t realise but dad cooked it tonight and we had it in a stir fry. He used to work with food and said it was fine and looked and smelt fine. But really? Raw chicken in just a freezer bag for 4 days in the fridge? I’m panicking now. Will I be ok? I've got emetophobia and my mind is working overtime. It was kind of him to cook but 4 days seems a lot for a chicken breast to be in the fridge?

OP posts:
Noelsjumper · 13/05/2022 21:56

When you buy chicken it usually has a week or so on it, so likely to be fine. The fact it was in a freezer bag is neither here nor there, unless it wasn't sealed?

PurpleMarie · 13/05/2022 21:56

You’ll be fine.

lancsgirl85 · 13/05/2022 21:57

Was there no expiry date written on the bag? I'm also emetophobic so I can fully empathise. Finger crossed all will be ok! Did it taste ok?

Original poster
pinkrainbowsocks · 13/05/2022 21:58

We'd bought it from Lidl as a pack of 4 breasts and had eaten the rest on Monday when we bought them and dad wrapped the remaining one in a freezer bag. I'd just googled and it said raw chicken 1-2 days max in the fridge! Thank you both xx

OP posts:
Voice0fReason · 13/05/2022 21:58

I'd eat it.
4 days is probably the limit but there's nothing wrong with a freezer bag.

JohannSebastianBach · 13/05/2022 21:59

It'll be fine

shoehornartth · 13/05/2022 21:59

Chicken I bought today doesn’t expire for 6 days. I doubt there is an issue, you can 100% tell when chicken is off.

Original poster
pinkrainbowsocks · 13/05/2022 22:00

@lancsgirl85 it's awful isn't it. Dad says he thinks the pack had the date of the 15th on and he said it looked and smelt fine. It tasted ok cooked in the stir fry I didn't think anything of it until I realised it was the breast that had been in the fridge all week! Although he spent most of his career working in food hygiene he's quite old school in the if it looks and smells ok it's fine! 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkrainbowsocks · 13/05/2022 22:01

Thank you all for your reassurance. This is saving me a sleepless night!! So it doesn't matter it had been opened from the pack and was in a freezer bag?

OP posts:
chillidoritto · 13/05/2022 22:01

I'm an emetophobe as well. At least it had been in the fridge i guess and wrapped. I think it will be fine, especially if it was cooked properly.

Original poster
pinkrainbowsocks · 13/05/2022 22:03

@chillidoritto it's awful isn't it. I literally really only trust my own (which I cremate), my ex partners and my own cooking! I would literally stay awake all night worrying about it x

OP posts:
IEatChocolateForBreakfast · 13/05/2022 22:03

pinkrainbowsocks · 13/05/2022 22:00

@lancsgirl85 it's awful isn't it. Dad says he thinks the pack had the date of the 15th on and he said it looked and smelt fine. It tasted ok cooked in the stir fry I didn't think anything of it until I realised it was the breast that had been in the fridge all week! Although he spent most of his career working in food hygiene he's quite old school in the if it looks and smells ok it's fine! 🤦🏼‍♀️

I think you're really over thinking this. He smelled it and you all tasted it and it was fine. Your dad is still alive after all these years. He's worked in food. He knows what he's doing. You're fine.

lancsgirl85 · 13/05/2022 22:05

@pinkrainbowsocks
I also cremate chicken! DP won't eat it when I've cooked it as it's dry as a bone 😂
Oh the joys of emetophobia 😢

Original poster
pinkrainbowsocks · 13/05/2022 22:07

@lancsgirl85 same!! I just gave up on cooking in the end unless it was 'safe' foods like pasta or jacket potato's anything else I would just cremate as I'd be so scared it wasn't cooked properly! I'd love to learn to cook properly but I just can't get the times right as I always give everything longer

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkrainbowsocks · 13/05/2022 22:08

@IEatChocolateForBreakfast you're right. Thank you x

OP posts:
magnoliaabomination · 13/05/2022 22:13

pinkrainbowsocks · 13/05/2022 22:00

@lancsgirl85 it's awful isn't it. Dad says he thinks the pack had the date of the 15th on and he said it looked and smelt fine. It tasted ok cooked in the stir fry I didn't think anything of it until I realised it was the breast that had been in the fridge all week! Although he spent most of his career working in food hygiene he's quite old school in the if it looks and smells ok it's fine! 🤦🏼‍♀️

I have a level 3 in food hygiene (management level stuff).

And honestly... I eat stuff I'd never serve to the general public. Sniff test for stuff I'm going to eat, absolutely. I know it's not approved, but in reality I've never had food poisoning from something I made.

I'm much stricter at work though.

Original poster
pinkrainbowsocks · 13/05/2022 22:21

@magnoliaabomination thank you. This makes me feel much better! x

OP posts:
ouch321 · 13/05/2022 22:25

No part of your post would worry me.

And if the worst were to happen it's only being sick for a couple of days, it's not a permanent health issue

ChickensandCows · 13/05/2022 22:26

Gone off chicken smells absolutely rancid, it stinks!! So honestly don't worry there's no way he would have cooked it if it was off.

OP just a tip for you if you're worried about stuff like this - go vegan or vegetarian. It takes a lot of worry about food poisoning off you as most of that worry usually relates to meat for a lot of people.

PandaOrLion · 13/05/2022 22:34

Get some help for your anxiety around this (or talk to the professional supporting you too). You deserve to be able to live well without overthinking things like this.

chillidoritto · 13/05/2022 22:37

It's really bad! I feel your pain! I only like to eat chicken that I am in control of!!! I avoid seafood because it terrifies me, even though everyone says i'm missing out!

lancsgirl85 · 14/05/2022 06:41

ouch321 · 13/05/2022 22:25

No part of your post would worry me.

And if the worst were to happen it's only being sick for a couple of days, it's not a permanent health issue

"It's only being sick" is not something anyone with emetophobia can possibly think. It's an irrational fear and it's very real to the sufferer. That's like saying to someone terrified of spiders "well it's only being in a room with a spider for a few days". I wish people wouldn't be so ignorant around this condition. It's debilitating when you're suffering with it.

Hope you're ok, OP. Hope your anxiety didn't keep you awake Flowers

Sminton · 14/05/2022 06:46

I can really recommend a meat thermometer to avoid the need for cremating! Still tend to go a couple of degrees over but it’s really reassuring. I’ve been known to take mine along to bbqs!

StageRage · 14/05/2022 06:50

I hope you are OK, OP.

I am pretty sure you are fine, but for what it’s worth, I am not emetophobic and I would not eat chicken that had been in the fridge 4 days unless it was within a labelled ‘Use by’ date.

But it sounds as if yours was within the stated date anyway.

Original poster
pinkrainbowsocks · 14/05/2022 11:56

Thanks everyone. I still spent all night worrying and had a bit of an upset stomach about 4am but not sure if that's from worrying or not!

OP posts: