Covid and good anxiety

[Whatnowwww]

I’m 26 weeks. My DH is doing massive weekly shops and our fridge is always ram packed full. Plus, we are often eating food on the best before date.
I ate some Caesar salad today that went off today and some hummus, and I felt sick after. It could be nausea returning but I’m feeling really worried that the fridge just isn’t working properly as it’s too full, and I’ve been eating rotten food and or listeriosis infected foods. In the USA, pregnant women are told to avoid supermarket bought hummus and pre packaged salad, although the advice here isn’t that.
I’m feeling worried, does any one else have the same anxiety?

Ooops I meant FOOD anxiety!!

I believe in the US they have less stringent regulations on food production which leads to stricter rules for pregnant ladies and what they can eat. The UK food law and best before dates are fairly strict so I wouldn't worry about this. If it didnt smell or taste funny as you were eating it, it's not a problem.

Ha, I was excited to see how my anxiety might start benefitting me! LH is right though, I wouldn't worry.

Live in US and never heard that advice before. Just checked American College of Ob-Gyn and they don't mention bagged salad or hummus as foods to avoid.

I take it you have not actually been sick? Just feel a bit off? If you had food poisoning you'd be being sick etc.

I ate a hot dog by mistake when pregnant and convinced myself I had given myself listeria. I hadn't but I understand the worry.

Do what you can to ease your anxiety, such as ask your husband to buy less food so the fridge isn't rammed if that's making you nervous, although I'm quite sure the fridge is working just fine.

Try to direct your thoughts to more positive ones when the intrusive ones take over. You'll be fine I'm quite sure.

My pregnancy sickness returned at 25 weeks so it could be that rather than the food.
Were the dates use by dates or best before dates as they are slightly different in terms of risks. Use by dates must be adhered too as the product might be unsafe to eat. Best before dates mostly mean they can't guarantee that the food might have deteriorated in terms of quality.

For salad leaves, especially bagged salads even before pregnancy I would try to eat quickly and within a day or two before date given because I find they do go past their best quickly, providing you are washing salad leaves, veggies and fruit well before eating all should be OK.

Eggs are fine if they have red lion mark on

If you don't think you'll get through all the food then use your freezer. dh can't cook and I've been too sick to touch or look at raw meats for instance so i will freeze and then defrost as and when

Always check using lovely pregnancy heightened sense of smell and try a taste on your fingertip of say hummus.. If it is fizzy or sour then I wouldn't risk it myself

If you haven't been sick or had an upset stomach i would be reassured and try not to worry. Even if you did get a bout of sickness it is likely ok

When I get the food in I'll clean the fridge out, list up the meals per date order and stick it to the fridge. Also bringing close dates to the front so you don't miss them behind other bits.
Sounds stupid and sucking eggs but I'm sure you are doing just fine

All the best

Thank-you so much ladies, I think this is all a combination of nausea returning and anxiety.

@Tomasinaa thanks, I was looking at the CDC guidelines and they seem so much more restrictive than in the UK. I was in Florida at 9-10 weeks and ate some smoked salmon, read it’s not advised in the US and had a total panic.

I have a massive craving for sushi but it seems so complicated, first meal post birth will be a mountain of sushi.

Thanks so much ladies

I think the US rules are stricter because of different food safety practices. If the NHS doesn't recommend against it, I'm sure it's safe - they take a pretty cautious approach generally! I totally get food anxiety, though, and sympathise - but I'm sure you'll be ok. I've never heard of anyone getting sick from eating hummus, so the risk must be tiny.

I shouldn’t admit to this neurotic behaviour but I’m always checking :

www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/search/alerts

It gives the details of listeria outbreaks so I’m hoping if nothing is mentioned there, the risks are slim...