Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect better quality food from our supermarkets?

29 replies

TheYearOfTheCat · 22/12/2008 07:51

And not have my DH & DC poisoned 3 days before Christmas?

I normally am very fastidious about checking dates & quality of food when I shop, but with kids, sometimes there just isn't the time. In the last 2 weeks I have bought:

From Lidl: a packet of ham 3 days past its use by date and a rotten lemon.

From Tesco: 2 rotten cucumbers on 2 separate occasions.

From Sainsburys: a packet of out of date rolls.

From M&S: Sliced turkey, which although within date, has now given my DH & 2 DC food poisoning. . . .

. . . .so instead of doing my grocery shopping and wrapping presnts today whilst the DC are at nursery, I am now going to be cleaning puke and washing sheets whilst I have a poorly toddler superglued to my side.

Oh FFS!

OP posts:
Anna8888 · 22/12/2008 07:54

Hmm.

I do think that it is your responsibility also to check sell-by dates and the freshness of fruit and vegetables.

However, there is no excuse for the M&S sliced turkey, unless you inadvertently interrupted the cold chain...

FanjoForTheYuletideMammaries · 22/12/2008 08:04

are you sure it's food poisoning? there are a lot of bugs around and maybe it is a coincidence that they ate the turkey?

Freckle · 22/12/2008 08:29

It might not be the turkey. There are so many bugs around and M&S food would normally be totally reliable.

Hope they get better soon.

TheSeussisgettingfat · 22/12/2008 08:51

The ham and the rolls past the date is definately not on. I suppose this time of year with so many shoppers fruit and veg can get damamged once it's on the shelves so may not have been when it was put out but still, YANBU for sure.

moondog · 22/12/2008 09:04

AND THE MINDLESS BLAME CULTURE SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS.

georgiemum · 22/12/2008 09:20

Poor you!

I was in one of the mentioned ones in the summer (when it was stinkingly hot) and someone had left a packet of prawns by the till... The checkout lady called over a passing manager and asked what she should do with them 'oh just put them back on the shelf' she said and wandered off. The while queue gasped and shook their heads.

No wonder you got food poisoning!

ChirpyGrinch · 22/12/2008 09:32

I had both DD@s seriously ill earlier thsi year,DD1 listless with the runs and DD2 throwing up everything in sight. DD1 had to be hospitalised for rehydration, luckily I got enough BM down DD2 between throwing up for her to stay at home.

DD1 had food poisoning, DD2 had rotavirus (sp?)

Hospital told me that being sick is not normally a symptom of food poisoning, so I think that it sounds like your lot have a bug, norovirus is going round.

And yes, they should check best before dates, but then so should you.

MrsSeanBean · 22/12/2008 09:34

It's usually hard work finding any decent bananas in Tescos (in a complete bunch, at least). I have to ferret and break off single fruits without pock-marked skin.

AccioPinotGrigio · 22/12/2008 09:40

I have to add support to the norovirus thing. I had food poisoning last year (campylobacter from eating very rare meat) and I was down with it for two weeks - no vomiting just frequent, very, very frequent,uncontrollable trips to the lavatory. Horrendous.

And no YANBU - that's a sad little roll call of rotten food to be buying from supermarkets - as a hardcore eco-ponce I never shop in them myself.

Original poster
TheYearOfTheCat · 22/12/2008 09:46

As I said in my OP - I do normally check sell by dates - I am the person you see rummaging at the back of the shelves in the supermarket looking for the freshest stuff. But sometimes, when you are in a rush, or have children with you, it is impossible to check the date / condition of every item you put in the trolley. I think that in a 2 week period, it is a pretty high hit rate for substandard produce.

Moondog AND THE MINDLESS BLAME CULTURE SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS. When my family are hit by food poisoning from food that I buy from a supposedly 'quality' shop, of course I am going to be pissed off and blame them (and I put it in our fridge within 10 minutes of buying it).

I am absolutely certain it is food poisoning - I was the only person who didn't eat the turkey, and I am fine. My DH started to feel ill within an hour of eating it. I have contacted environmental health and they are going to analyse the remainder of the packet of turkey.

Now, off to out another load of washing on.

OP posts:
lilacclaire · 22/12/2008 09:49

Poor you, I usually check dates etc as well but I know what its like if you have the kids with you, its just a grab and run isnt it!

No solutions, just sympathy !

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 22/12/2008 09:50

Surely a rotten cucumber would flop when you pick it up? How would you not notice it.

Plus I'd be hesitant to say 'food poisoning'. food poisoning is hell on earth, especially in children, it's more likely one of the d and v bugs that are rife at the moment.

ChirpyGrinch · 22/12/2008 10:00

Sorry, I did see that you checked, adn yes it is very poor showing but I really dont think it sounds like food poisoning. I am honestly tryin to make you feel better as fp is horrible and wiped DD out for weeks, whereas norovirus is actually not that bad (in comparison!)

DD2 had rotovirus and spent 36 hours in a (variety of) slings throwing up on me (she was 6 months) and bfing in between bouts of vomiting, and I didn't catch it, so just becaiuse you are well doesn't really mean anything.

Original poster
TheYearOfTheCat · 22/12/2008 10:04

DWP - Its because they wrap the cucumbers in cellophane - it's only once you take the cellophane off, that you realise that parts of the skin are all mushy and black - and both cucumbers have been within date as well.

OP posts:
ChirpyGrinch · 22/12/2008 10:07

God I am rubbish today, keep forgetting to offer sympathy as well, it is horrific I know!
I went ot the cahrity shop and bought a job lot of old sheets/towels (for a fiver) and then if I had to bin some I didnt feel so bad.
my tumble dryer has never been the same since.

Hopefully it will only be a 1 or 2 day thing and will clear...

ChirpyGrinch · 22/12/2008 10:09

You see, this is why I never buy cucumbers!

misdee · 22/12/2008 10:18

food poisening doesnt start within an hour genereally.

hopelly just puking bug

AuraofDora · 22/12/2008 10:27

i thought food poisoning did start within the hour

sounds horror, hope they feel better soon

i lurve testing me 'cumbers in a rough fallic way though I go to a market so no horrid plastic! you should be able to feel mushiness though, no?..

loobeylou · 22/12/2008 11:25

OP sorry about your sickness problems hope all well by christmas (me and 2 DCs were down with norovirus last year, which was foul, and it IS poss YOU might come down with it in 48 hrs,if its not food poisoning, sorry!).

Re: the turkey being in date but possibly off, sometimes you can get a tiny pin prick or split in the wrapping that noone notices. I have had this with yoghurts, chicken and coleslaw, the only clue each time being the lid/cellophane seeming to be "bulging". the chicken (raw) stank like a dead fish when i opened it. the yoghurt actually had green mouldy flecks init and the coleslaw i suspected was off because of the tub being all swollen. I always write and complain and I always get sent my money back/voucher.

HappyMummyOfOne · 22/12/2008 13:14

Most cases of food poisoning take between 12-48 hours to develop, other cases can take upto a week to appear so i'd say its unlikely to be the turkey.

You should check dates before buying so as to ensure they are in date - sometimes dates are missed by staff simply due to the sheer volume of items in store.

Cucumbers are very easy to spot if off - never had to open the clear packaging before spotting they are not fresh.

Chances are its just a sickness bug as there are lots going round.

MegGriffin · 22/12/2008 13:31

It's funny you should say that about not always being sick with food poisoning as years ago I had Salmonella food poisoning (confirmed by poo sample, yuk) and was very ill for a couple of weeks going to the toilet but no vomiting.

MegGriffin · 22/12/2008 13:33

Sorry DH and DC are unwell, hope they are better soon.

MadameCastafiore · 22/12/2008 13:34

You need to shop in Waitrose dear.

Sidge · 22/12/2008 13:36

Until it's confirmed that the turkey is responsible for your family's D&V I'd keep an open mind.

Norovirus is everywhere at the moment.

And regarding buying out of date food, well that's partly your responsibility and partly the store's. They should check the stock, and you should check it before you buy it.

blithedance · 22/12/2008 13:45

"M&S food would normally be totally reliable"!!

Just to say that DH once DID get food poisoning, campylobacter, from a Waitrose chicken sandwich. He was really, really ill. It's no respecter of classy supermarkets, I'm afraid.

I guess the supermarket should be selling things that are fit for purpose, but risks can't ever be eliminated from life.