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Original poster

Toddler licked RAW pork steak - should I be worried????

26 replies

thebluefoxategreensocks · 03/05/2008 20:48

Help! Anyone's child ever done this, and is it dangerous, or nothing to worry about?

I had several pork steaks on a plate (covered with foil) in the fridge so they could finish defrosting. I was busy at the cooker and didn't realise what my 2.5yo daughter was doing behind me. She often goes in the fridge - usually for a harmless yoghurt. So I was shocked when I turned round to see what she was saying and find she was holding a pork steak with both hands and licking/tasting it! YUCK! I immediately washed her mouth out with water (very wet paper towel to wipe all over) but I just worried it might make her ill or something. Don't think she actually ate any of it, just tasted it!

I've Googled but can't seem to find anyone talking about any similar episodes, tho surely I'm not the only mum who's child this has happened to!!

OP posts:
littleducks · 03/05/2008 20:54

It isnt recommended (food poisoning etc) but am sure she will be fine as she only licked it, she has probably licked worse! So good job she didnt bite and eat it, did she like it?

Washersaurus · 03/05/2008 20:54

That is pretty disgusting, I hope she doesn't suffer for it.

If it makes you feel any better, I caught my 9mo DS sucking the dirt & crap off the manky buggy wheels this morning ....they were REALLY manky and horrible as well

I try to think of it as building his immune system....

fleximum · 03/05/2008 20:58

Agree with the above. my ds2 ate handfuls of sawdust mixed with gerbil poo before I could stop him after his brother knocked the cage on the floor. I too am hoping it helps build his immune system.

Original poster
thebluefoxategreensocks · 03/05/2008 20:59

I think she did like it, unfortunately! She wasn't complaining - I seem to think she was saying she was eating something and implied it was good!

.... I seem to remember my mum telling me I once ripped open a pack of mince when we were in the supermarket when I was a baby (maybe I tried to taste it too - unfortunately mum is no longer alive, so don't have her to ask advice of!) So maybe my daughter inherited this activity?! LOL Of course, everyone talks about how bad raw pork is - don't think raw (or at least rare) beef is so bad.

OP posts:
Hobo · 03/05/2008 21:01

My dds never licked raw pork! but dd2 did scoff poisonous berries once, at a butterfly park.

Mad panic at A&E...but fine in the end

PTA · 03/05/2008 21:04

When I was younger, about 9 or 10 I think, I was partial to a bit of raw bacon. Used to sneak into the fridge and eat a liitle at a time. It never did me any harm but I appreciate that your dd is significantly younger but I'm sure she will be fine.

Brangelina · 03/05/2008 21:04

I think the worry with pork is toxoplasmosis as apparently it is more rife in pork than in other meats (or so I was told by my doc when pg), although still quite rare, plus I'm not sure it would survive freezing. The other thing could be salmonella seeing as they were defrosting, but that usually shows up pretty quickly with a high fever and d+v.

Most likely though she'll be fine.

Thomcat · 03/05/2008 21:07

My DD ate some raw chicken once and she was ok. Not sure about pork. Was just a lick, sure she'll be fine.

CissyCharlton · 03/05/2008 21:10

I remember once eating raw sausage when I was very, very young. I loved sausages and couldn't wait for my mum to cook them! I didn;t think anything of it, in fact I don;t think I ever told my mum. Don't worry .

Original poster
thebluefoxategreensocks · 03/05/2008 21:10

Thanks for the reassurance. I was assuming she would be OK, but always good to "talk" to others, huh?! Glad Mumsnet is here! Not that it's medical professionals we're talking to, but you know what I mean!

It happened about 3+ hours ago and she seemed fine afterwards - has since had dinner, bath and is peacefully asleep. So hopefully no harm done.

OP posts:
Minniethemoocher · 03/05/2008 21:15

When I was a child, I often used to eat the meat out of raw sausages, tasted like pate! Never made me ill, but NOT recommended!!

SaintGeorge · 03/05/2008 21:17

The 2 main risks would be salmonella and trichinosis, but both are highly unlikely since a) she only licked the pork and didn't eat it and b) modern farming/producing/packaging reduces risk.

PTA - I was a raw bacon eater when I was young too. I shudder at the thought now.

ruty · 03/05/2008 21:24

toxiplasmosis is killed by freezing.

billiejo · 03/05/2008 21:38

yes, i too used to eat raw sausages,i actually used to think that was what pate was!!!! never told my mum, think i must have known it was wrong somehow. I must have done it 10+ times

itwasntme · 03/05/2008 21:41

DD has had the toilet brush in her mouth and survived ... I'm sure he'll be absolutely fine.

shouldbeworking · 03/05/2008 22:22

I once turned round to find my 9 month old daughter sucking on the cloth I had just been cleaning the bathroom floor with. .....She came to no harm although I do remember a few frantic phone calls to my mil who is a retired nurse!!!!

pickie · 03/05/2008 22:26

Ds once fished out a salmon skin from the bin and ate it. He was fine

Lubyloo · 03/05/2008 22:37

I'm sure she'll be fine. My sister and I drank chicken blood several times whenever my mum left a chicken defrosting. We were never ill and never suffer from tummy upsets now as adults.

Lubyloo · 03/05/2008 22:38

Meant to put a on there! I do now realise what revolting children we were!

Original poster
thebluefoxategreensocks · 03/05/2008 22:49

Seems children like to taste all sorts of things! Both of my children enjoy (or have enjoyed, in the case of my 2.5yo) sucking pieces of gravel from the garden. Have no idea what is so exciting about it, but it's been such a favourite activity that I soon decided I couldn't possible stop them every time! My daughter no longer does it, though her 13.5mo brother thinks it's lots of fun. I guess it's all part of a healthy way of growing up - provided they don't get in contact with actual poison or things truly dangerous! My daughter also liked to chew on red berries which grow on about a half dozen shrubs in the garden! They do have very slight amounts of some poison (forget what it was), but I think at worst you'd get an upset tummy if you ate loads of them. She never came to any harm, and soon left that off too. Just hope her brother doesn't find them so delicious! It's lots of fun when there's two toddlers close in age to get into stuff together!

OP posts:
dingdong05 · 03/05/2008 22:53

It's nice to know there's other raw sausage eaters out there! I used to suck a little out of each end and then twist them up again so no one would notice
We used to have a lot of chipolatas lol

Original poster
thebluefoxategreensocks · 03/05/2008 23:00

LOL - just how many "raw sausage eaters" are on Mumsnet??! Wonder if anyone is going to confess to still occasionally eating some! LOL

OP posts:
Catcooper25uk · 05/12/2009 17:49

What about raw fish fingers?Just caught my 22 month old son with a raw defrosted fish finger pack he had sneaked and he must have ate at least 3 do u think this could be harmful to him?

Mommy91 · 31/07/2023 06:28

Hi I follow your topic about your kid licked raw pork. My toddler did the same. May I know if she was fine and nothing ever happens to her. I wish!

BlackForestCake · 31/07/2023 17:39

The OP's child is now 18, if she survived perhaps she might like to see this thread!