Ok, I admit I am the spawn of the devil - but - BSE in baby food jars?

[Flossam]

This is what my HV told me I was risking my DS with today for not cooking for him 100% (he has about 50/50, I work 2/3 time - ie not quite part, not quite full -time) and atm with summery food this is the best I feel I can manage. I do at least once a week spag bol, a roast, or make him a one pan fish pie. However, as we are both shift workers I don't cook everynight, DP dosen't cook when I am not here. I find it hard (violins out please)

Then to be told that I am risking my child. I said I used organic, and she just kind of shrugged her shoulders as that makes no odds, and yet I'm sure there have been no incidences of BSE in organic beef, have there? Why do they always have to have this holier than thou attitude? Grrr....

I thought there was a scare a few years back.

that holier than thou attiude is one of the reason i do not do HVs

Next time you see her, say the words 'Relative risk'.

We all put our kids in far more danger every time we take them in the car.

What a crock, ignore her.

If you like cooking and have the time, fine, if not, don't worry

tell her to f' off

it is really the only sane response

you do not need an excuse for giving jars. Organic jars are fabulous .. who can be fagged making that many varieties and concoctions .. personally I wouldn't care if all your meals were jars ... I certainly even as a SAHM had weeks when both children only ate food from jars or fruit / veg

seriously, I mean it .. tell her to f' off .. its the only way

hmm well i guess there is a chance. but i wouldn't have thought it was any more than if you were cooking him beef yourself
unless baby food manufacturers have a penchant for brains and spinal cords
which i doubt

Balls to your insufferable, ignorant HV. How dare she try to enforce her lifestyle - or the one she'd like - on you?

Cattle over 30 months (think is 30, maybe 20) haven't been allowed into the UK food chain for years. In fact BSE is such a non-issue now they are talking about getting rid of the 30 month rule. Try the food standards agency if you want any more info - from memory it's fsa.org.uk or something similar.

ps I'm a vegetarian but even I know your HV is talking rubbish.

The risk, if any, is sooooooooooooooo small. And we take much greater risks when we get in the car and we do that without a moments thought.

Thats what I am thinking as well SL! We can't afford to cook organic at home (it actually does seem to cost more than buying the jars to do it that way) so DS has non organic beef in his spag bol.

Thanks for all the support everyone BTW, I too usually do try and avoid these people where possible.

just be glad he isn't veggie... i get nothing but grief for NOT giving ds meat! lol

oh ffs, it makes me sick that we are PAYING this hag to frighten and depress mothers. I know there is a lovely HV on Mumsnet, but my god, the rest of them are just DESPERATE to say something negative about you and your child, aren't they.
Christ, jars are GREAT. Your ds will be fine. She is an ignorant silly cow. Gah.

I do buy organic meat for ds - because it's better quality and for animal welfare reasons because I'm a veggie. That doesn't make non-organic meat dreadful food that will kill children, though.

I often have this conversation with dh: 'are those sausages you've bought from happy pigs?'.

And as everyone says, it's organic beef, exactly the same stuff as would be in the food you cooked yourself! aaaargh.

Aloha got in before me! Don't fret, Flossam - you're doing a brilliant job with your beautiful boy and this woman is a witch.

One more to add to my ever-growing list of HVs for the firing squad...

Message withdrawn

That thought did cross my mind Socci, actually. I've said before that I have thought I might like to do my HV training when DS goes to school. But I want to do it so I don't end up being one of 'these'. I hope I can do it better. If any of us are still on here and I start becoming like this - please, do, shoot me!

You are doing just fine Flossam and clearly recognised hv crap when you heard it. It is so inappropriate when hv's pass off their own opinions as health information. I rang my hv on a Friday because DD had an unsightly scab on her nose that wouldn't heal. I wanted to consult the GP because it was getting worse but felt a little guilty asking for an urgent appointment. The earliest regular appt was 5 days later. The hv told me not to be too quick to run to the dr, I was destroying the child's natural immunities, I should try using more soap and water. I decided to ask for the urgent appt. It turned out to be impetigo. I am so glad I didn't listen to her.

She shouldn't be making judgement calls like that over the phone in the first place though should she? Hope your DD is better soon. I had it when I was young, it's horrible and yucky. Bless her. xx

Flossam, there is very little definitive evidence that new vCJD is directly linked to BSE anyway, as it is an incredibly rare disease and the predicted epedemic has yet to show itself (I used to work with someone who sat on the DoH specialist advisory group a few years ago). The UK food system is now so highly regulated around animal products that the likelihood of any baby jar containing anything that would harm your child is minimal, and probably less likely to pose a risk to your baby in general (hygene standards etc) than food you cook at home. Possibly if you were buying something off the back of a lorry maybe. She is being silly, to be quite frank.

Oh not another silly H.V!

I try to avoid them at all costs now. Infact dd2 hasn't seen one for months, i had her registeredsomewhere new at 2 weeks and i've never even met the H.V. (Though rang and said i'd come in if i was worried and needed anything when dd was 5 months and she said she'd see me soon for a 9 month check!.sigh)

Flossam, i do exactly the same i'd say, 50% fresh food 50% jars. I do feel good when i feed her stuff i've made but the contents are probably much the same anyway, it's just that i feel i've tryed harder.

Roar!!!!!

Report this shrivelled, intellectually redundant mini-Hitler as soon as possible! use words like "Greatly distressed" and "Inaccurate information passed to vulnerable members of society"

what a pube!

The thought has passed my mind actually Colditz. Thought I'd have a good search around the internet and see if there is anything written on it anywhere. Then I could write a letter of complaint starting something like this 'As a nurse and a proffessional all my advice and practice is evidence based. Therefore you can imagine my dismay when I have recently been misinformed by one of your HV in the most distressing and worrying way.'

Maybe if we do complain about these people they will have to improve their practice.

PMSL at "what a pube"!!!

"What a pube" that is hilarious. With your permission I would like tos tart using that often he he he he so funny