New instructions, use food and drink by use by date!

I" m with you BlueBelle. Not quite 80 but still going strong!

I’m sure I was told that potassium permanganate(sp?) -is it the same thing or derived from? …was good for applying to feet to condition them when going on a long hike. This was decades ago mind you.

Remembering my mum soaking all the veg in Condy's Crystals when we lived in Malta..., I looked it up just now but had to carry out several searches before I found its use as a veg sterilizer under the following link - www.chemicals.co.uk/blog/what-is-potassium-permanganate?srsltid=AfmBOorf5Q-Nbh-JdlcIA-TIys-c3S-OcfABpFtXXGbPjnf2-ZJaP0-j
but previously there were:
"What are condy's crystals good for?
Condy's Crystals or potassium permeate is an antimicrobial and drying agent. This would benefit anyone with a skin infection, for example, impetigo or school sores or infected eczema, or those with skin diseases causing the skin to weep, for example, eczema.15 Feb 2023
Condy's Crystal bath | Children's Health Queensland

Children's Health Queensland
www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au › dermatology
What are the side effects of potassium permanganate crystals?
Adverse effects

Potassium permanganate can cause skin irritation, redness, pain and burns with the concentrated solution. Skin hardening and staining of skin can be experienced even with dilute solutions.4 Apr 2025"
Crivvens!

I did a food hygiene course years ago and I always abide by the Use By dates.

A former neighbour worked at a local factory that made yoghurt, and told me it was usually good for another two weeks after the Use By date.
I'd use my sense of sight, smell and taste for myself, but wouldn't serve it to anyone else.

Best Before may mean that taste and looks start to deteriorate

Many years ago my daughter worked at the McVities biscuit factory.
One day the production line run would be digestive biscuits.
At that time all the main supermarket own-brand biscuits came off this run, ie were the same product, and would be packaged according to the shops they were going to.

Any biscuits being shipped over to Canada from the same run would have a "Best Before" date three months later than those to be sold in the UK, to allow for shipping times.

The M&S own-brand digestives had their own production run as they were a slightly different recipe.

The first thing to get clear is the difference between Best Before, Sell By, and Use By Dates. The one that matters is Use By. I did a food hygiene course years ago and I always abide by the Use By dates. Sell By and Best Before may mean that taste and looks start to deteriorate, but ignoring the Use By date can have nasty results. My children were very much free range on a muddy smallholding with animals all over the house and were very healthy, but I have always washed fruit and vegetables - even my own. And of course handwashing is a must.

As a kid I can honestly say that I never willingly tucked into lettuce at home. Usually a Cos or a Webbes in those days.
Cuccs ✔️ Beetroots ✔️ pickled onions/spring onions ✔️ celery ✔️ mustard and cress ✔️ toms X But lettuce only if I was really hungry at school dinners.
We do start to lose our immunity as we age even the healthiest.
It is just the reverse of babyhood it builds up then it wanes.

David49

“It’s wonder that all those poor sod’s working in the polytunnels in Spain aren’t dropping like flies handling all those nasties.”

They aren’t eating the salads a week later they’re eating, tapas, paella and tortilla.

Not on their wages!

Have you actually seen their living conditions, the kitchens (I use that word very loosely) they have to cook in…

“It’s wonder that all those poor sod’s working in the polytunnels in Spain aren’t dropping like flies handling all those nasties.”

They aren’t eating the salads a week later they’re eating, tapas, paella and tortilla.

petra I have a lot of faith in the human immune system.

Our children played with mud, worms, insects, swam in the estuary at the end of our road. DD was often found in stables with a sandwich in one hand and shovelling poop in the other. Eaten fruit straight from trees and bushes.

Never have been sickly humans, all but one of the GC have been raised free range, the one that has been cosseted and baby wiped constantly is the one that is often poorly.

Granmarderby10

They used Milton in the salad prep kitchen at the hospital for leaves. They went into a big sink.
Cut my finger quite badly on a mandolin there too slicing - of all things, tomatoes!🤬
Very wary of mandolins since.
Salad spinners are rather useful gadgets though

I’d never have a mandolin! We once arrived at friends’ house in rural N Devon, to find them out, the back door unlocked, and blood all over the kitchen floor.

Gadget-mad male friend had managed to slice the top off his finger, so it was ages before they got back, the nearest A&E being quite a way away.

The following morning, dh picked up the mandolin, steered gadget-mad friend to the bin, and dropped the mandolin in.

‘I paid thirty quid for that!’ said gadget-mad friend.
‘Tough!’ said dh.
It remained binned.

GrannyGravy13

It is a miracle that I have reached my 60’s and that my family, children and grandchildren have survived…

Plus the fact that if you buy ( not me 😱 ) salad in a plastic bag it’s never felt a human hand on it. it’s all automated from seed to shelf
It’s wonder that all those poor sod’s working in the polytunnels in Spain aren’t dropping like flies handling all those nasties.
It’s a miracle, isn’t it 🤷‍♀️
Well is not actually, it’s a wonderful thing called our immune system that keeps billons of us alive.
But you carry on wasting the earths most precious resource: Water

Witzend

MayBee70

I think you can buy something for sterilising fruit etc?

Milton?

There’s something called Prepsaf…

“Blaming animals again! It's exactly by NOT being so hygienic that children build up their immunity!!!!”

Yes children do need to build up immunity but if you are old or have pre existing illness you have poor immunity so WASH YOUR SALAD

No apologies for shouting.

Amen

I think they're Milton tablets used for babies bottles (but then all you GNers would know that)

MayBee70

I think you can buy something for sterilising fruit etc?

Milton?

It is a miracle that I have reached my 60’s and that my family, children and grandchildren have survived…

pably15 yes baby bottle steriliser. It came as liquid or tablets which I buy sometimes just to make sure some difficult to clean food things are safe.
Most parents use a steam steriliser or similar nowdays for all things the baby comes into contact with.

Hospitals would advise mums to rinse with boiling water and swish out to mitigate the bleachy smell,
but if the parents were considered a “bit clueless” shall we say..then advice was just drain after removal from the tank!

I will probably opt for the “unwashed” salad leaves from now on and use my spinner at home because unwashed lasts longer than washed anyway. So more economical

I always wash lettuce and fruit before I eat it,, but when I was a child I didn't , I'm 80 now and still alive and kicking.

granmarderby10, didn't they use milton to steralise babies bottles..

I always wash lettuce in salted water. Also wash tomatoes. You don't know how they have been handled

Earthmother9

I was in the M.E when a young Mum and the salad stuff was sterilised with Milton, you know what you use for the babies bottles.

I remember when my kids were babies and when they eventually had bottles it said to soak them in Milton and just drain them; no mention of rinsing them ( which I suppose could have reintroduced bacteria). But I always rinsed them in water that had been boiled as I hated them smelling of bleach.

Greciangirl

Oh dear.
I’ve just eaten some little gem salad leaves in a sandwich.

I rinsed some, then made and ate the sandwich before realising that I’d used the unwashed leaves instead of the rinsed ones.
Hope I don’t get stomach upset now,
And wish I hadn’t read this now.

Perhaps you could make yourself sick to get rid of all those nasties. 🤮

I was in the M.E when a young Mum and the salad stuff was sterilised with Milton, you know what you use for the babies bottles.