Food at Potlucks- Am I the only one?

valhalla360 wrote:

Farm kids who shoveled out the stalls and slopped the pigs, tend to get sick far less often than those brought up in an anti-bacterial bubble. Unfortuantely more and more kids are being brought up in that bubble.

link to that study please
bumpy

holstein13 wrote:
I think some of the commenters may be missing an important point. All those who wrote about surviving without seat belts, helmets, washed hands, drinking out of hoses, etc. are all survivors. By definition, survivors get to write forum comments -- Non-survivors don't. Yes, you survived those risks, but there are still some risks associated with those behaviors. That's why we've changed as society.

Granted, it's very debatable and I'd suggest that we have gone too far in terms of precautions (taking off our shoes at the airport, for example) but that doesn't mean that there is no risk.

We need to hear from all the people who died from eating at the pot luck. Where are those people? Come on folks. If you ate at a potluck and died, we'd like to hear from you. I'll wait.

(Hears sound of crickets)

I guess it's safe then. ;-)

If we are going to play that game, we are all survivors as is the OP, so since we survived, presumably there are good odds we will continue to survive doing what our ancestors have always done.

Then again, research is starting to show that anti-bacterial crazyness actually make us less resistant to illness. Farm kids who shoveled out the stalls and slopped the pigs, tend to get sick far less often than those brought up in an anti-bacterial bubble. Unfortuantely more and more kids are being brought up in that bubble.

A man went to visit his 90 year old grandfather that lived in the back country. He had no running water. While eating the breakfast of eggs and bacon prepared for him, he noticed a film-like substance on his plate. So he says, "Grandfather, are these plates clean?" His grandfather replies, "Those plates are as clean as cold water can get them, so go on and finish your meal."

That afternoon, while eating the hamburgers his grandfather made for lunch, he noticed many little black specks around the edge of his plate so again he asked, "Grandfather are you sure these plates are clean?" Without looking up from his burger, the grandfather says, "I told you those dishes are as clean as cold water can get them, now don't ask me about it anymore."

Well, later that day, they were on their way out to get dinner. As he was leaving the house, grandfather's dog who was lying on the floor started to growl and would not let him pass. "Grandfather, your dog won't let me out." Without diverting his attention , his grandfather shouted, "Coldwater, get out of the way!"

Someone mentioned washing bagged lettuce. I don't do that, I don't wash prewashed vegetables either. If I had to do that it would just set in the fridge until it rots. I don't want to get sick but, life is full of risks. I can't live under a rock.

And, yes when out camping if I'm cooking something and it drops on the ground I wash it off and put it back on the fire. I also eat the fish out of the local lakes and as a farm hand I know what sort of water run off is going into those lakes. It's not pretty.

And, yes I do sometimes let my dog lick the plate clean before it goes into the dishwasher. It's going to be clean and germ free after it comes out of the dishwasher so what difference does it make. I don't like it but, the dog has been known to lick me in the face too.

I've also been know to French kiss and do other things with people of the opposite gender too. You can catch germs that way too you know.

I would have no problem at a pot luck.

I agree with the people that said take a dish for you and the others and eat only your own dish if you like. If someone asks why say your on a low sodium diet and your dish is a low sodium dish.

To each his own.

Elizabeth24 wrote:
Anyone else out there feel the same.

Not me.

We do not eat at pot lucks. One time getting ill was enough for me and it was an RV gathering for all the campground volunteers. By the way, several were ill from the meal. We do occasionally eat out at restaurants but we are very picky where we will eat. We find our home prepsred food is much more tasty and cost effective than restaurants.

holstein13 wrote:
I think some of the commenters may be missing an important point. All those who wrote about surviving without seat belts, helmets, washed hands, drinking out of hoses, etc. are all survivors. By definition, survivors get to write forum comments -- Non-survivors don't. Yes, you survived those risks, but there are still some risks associated with those behaviors. That's why we've changed as society.

Granted, it's very debatable and I'd suggest that we have gone too far in terms of precautions (taking off our shoes at the airport, for example) but that doesn't mean that there is no risk.

We need to hear from all the people who died from eating at the pot luck. Where are those people? Come on folks. If you ate at a potluck and died, we'd like to hear from you. I'll wait.

(Hears sound of crickets)

I guess it's safe then. ;-)

Here you go, compliments of Benny Hill "Just because nobody complains doesn't mean all parachutes are perfect."

Personally, I'd rather risk death than live a life of fear.

Steve

My mother grew up in rural Idaho during the depression with no electricity or running water. If the beef roast smelled a little spoiled typically she’d slice off a thin layer and cook the rest. If the jelly grew fur she'd just scrape the furry part off. Spoiled milk was used for cooking. I remember getting food poisoning many times growing up (oh poor Steve, you have the stomach flu, again…). The good news is after surviving childhood I can eat most anything without getting sick from it. Once at a college geology club picnic I was the only one of over thirty guests that didn’t get sick, in fact I drove a bunch of people to the hospital. When I go down to Mexico drinking the water and eating food from street venders doesn’t concern me in the least.

Potlucks are fun. Bring em on!

Steve aka Geocritter

I think some of the commenters may be missing an important point. All those who wrote about surviving without seat belts, helmets, washed hands, drinking out of hoses, etc. are all survivors. By definition, survivors get to write forum comments -- Non-survivors don't. Yes, you survived those risks, but there are still some risks associated with those behaviors. That's why we've changed as society.

Granted, it's very debatable and I'd suggest that we have gone too far in terms of precautions (taking off our shoes at the airport, for example) but that doesn't mean that there is no risk.

We need to hear from all the people who died from eating at the pot luck. Where are those people? Come on folks. If you ate at a potluck and died, we'd like to hear from you. I'll wait.

(Hears sound of crickets)

I guess it's safe then. ;-)

Interesting thread.... seems like most folks who have responded are in the go and eat anything crowd when it comes to potlucks. I am a little bit more cautious. Items made with eggs and mayo generally are given a pass especially if they have spent any time sitting out unrefrigerated which is often the case. Just eating a little bit of something is not a solution. If the food is compromised even a little bit will make you ill.

I worry more about how the food was prepared. Was that cutting board thoroughly scrubbed in hot soapy water after the pork, poultry or beef was prepped on it? You really have no way of knowing what passes for acceptable hygiene in someone else' kitchen unless you have watched them cook.

We both have had serious bouts of food poisoning (always at restaurants), and I can assure you it can be very serious and never a fun event. I have cooked (and taught), professionally and take food safety far more seriously than a lot of folks I know. When it comes to potlucks we will continue to exercise caution. We don't show up starving, bring safely prepared, delicious food and generally go heavy on what we (or others we know and trust), brought.

As always.... YMMV.

:C