Covid and food- very worried

[CaramelEverything]

Hi, I have extremely bad anxiety so I can’t tell if I’m being ridiculous but I think I probably am.

My friend has kindly dropped off some cupcakes for me that she bought from a local cake seller in her area. I’ve looked up the lady’s social media from the sticker on the box and she’s a home baker, seems quite successful.

They’ve been sitting in my hall since yesterday morning, I’m too scared to eat them since I read an article in the stupid daily mail saying if a neighbour was to drop off some cakes for you, you should dispose of them! I’ve googled about covid and food and it just says there’s no evidence about it being transmitted that way, but that doesn’t mean it’s risk free does it?

I’m anxious about everything to do with this virus, and was anxious about pretty much everything in life before it too, my friend was so lovely to order these for me and I feel very down that I can’t let myself have one. Does anyone know if it’s safe?

Stop reading the daily mail. Bin the cakes, you wont enjoy them now anyway.

Do you think I should bin them for safety reasons? I know I shouldn’t read it.

Are you particularly high risk?
You know this is an over reaction. The cakes will be fine.

No theyll be fine. But I think if you eat them you'll just worry more.

I’d eat them def. but not worth it if you’re going to worry x

Eat them! Take away restaurants are still open as not deemed to be a risk.

I work in a hospital and today there were homemade cakes on loads of the wards! And everyone was eating them (no idea where they'd come from either 🤷‍♀️)

I’m not particularly high risk, but just scared of how it will affect me. If others would eat them that makes me feel less worried. Really don’t want to throw them away!

I've had takeout and fish and chips - I'm shielding.

id eat them

I would eat them, but as a PP said, the likliehood is that you won't enjoy them now anyway, so there's probably not much point in eating them, rather than them being dangerous. Takeaway food etc is still permitted in places with more stringent lockdowns, I imagine if it was thought to be too risky they would be banned; someone in their own kitchen is probably safer!

I’d eat them without a second thought. That said, cakes are supposed to be a nice thing that you enjoy. If eating them will mean you spend the next 2 weeks in a constant state of panic then I’m not sure it’s worth it.

Bin them, tell your friend they were delicious and don’t worry about it.

Would it be helpful to maybe speak to your GP about your anxiety levels? There is still help available.

@Tonemeth that makes me feel less anxious. I hope you enjoyed it! 😍

Oh I did. My mum is cleaning packaging which I think is OTT but anything I've read said its unlikely the virus can be passed on food.

I'm deadly serious about the daily mail though, it really isnt helpful. And is full of rubbish!

I hope you do eat them and enjoy them, but if you do please dont worry afterwards!

Good grief, about 3 weeks ago there was a thread where a poster asked AIBU to have dropped some brownies off at her DDs friends house. The answer was resoundingly yes. What on earth has changed? (Not saying I agree with one or other, just pointing out that the advice given here is ridiculous).

We arent discussing whether its ok to do frat, we are discussing whether they're safe. That's the difference.

My lovely neighbour dropped round a box of homemade cupcakes the other day. I didn’t think twice about eating them, they were lovely.
I’m also getting an afternoon tea delivery on Wednesday for my birthday, and plan on getting a Thai takeaway.
It’ll be fine. Enjoy your cakes

Eat the cakes - and calm down.

Thank you all, I’m going to give it a couple of hours and if I still feel too scared to eat them I’ll have to throw them away so I can move on!

@Tonemeth I only read the odd article and end up rolling my eyes at everything on there anyway, just habit I guess.

@Sunshinegirl82 I’ve tried a few times speaking about my anxiety but they only ever tell me to up my medication I’m on. I can speak to a mental health nurse though at the local clinic I’m under.

I haven’t read that about the brownies, I suppose there’s conflicting advice which is why I’m so wary.

@eminybob that all sounds amazing, enjoy!

Today both my DC ate cakes from an online cake maker as part of their cousin's virtual birthday party. Didn't think twice about it. & I've had various food items delivered to friends for birthdays & Easter over the last few weeks - all received & eaten & appreciates. Eat them, they will be fine.

If you want to reassure yourself but also get to eat your cupcakes why not just leave them for a week somewhere cool. The virus (even if present) won't survive for long but the cupcakes will survive perfectly well in a tin or plastic box for longer than a week. You could probably shorten their quarantine in the fridge or, depending what's in the cakes, freeze them (though not sure how well that works for icing).

I've been making myself delicious banana / walnut breakfast muffins - which is kind of cupcakes really - and keeping them in the freezer, taking one or two out the night before I want to eat them. They defrost at room temperature overnight and are lovely in the morning.

Jo :)

No I wouldn’t eat cup Cakes. I would Only eat anything I can reheat on a high temperature to kill any potential bugs.

We are not shielding. Husband is slightly asthmatic though.

But what We are trying is to delay getting the virus so we have a chance to be medicated if needed, ride on time for a potential medicine that can reduce the symptoms , and until they understand the virus more.

Most people are going to get it at some point, but for us now we would like to delay getting it for the above reasons.

can i take them? I'll put them in the microwave for 30 seconds ansmd yum yummmm

I would definitely eat them with both second thoughts. I love cake and the riskis very minimal.

Sorry you feel this way op. A relatively tiny proportion of the country actually has this awful disease, take sensible precautions. Wash your hands if you’ve been outside, don’t mix with others outside of your household, etc. But to throw food away really does seem an over reaction.
DH and I are both shielding as best we can, we’ve enjoyed three takeaways and still feel safe.

I would also eat them, stomach acids will dispose of any bits of virus that had managed to survive the oven and the time you’ve kept them before eating, and that’s assuming that the cake maker even had the virus in the first place. Chances are incredibly slim at this point and you sound like you could do with a treat!