Ot: Totally Freaking Out!!!

[jee'smom]

OK, so I'm at my best friend's house, and her dh took some marinated steaks out of the fridge, grilled them, and then PUT THEM BACK INTO THE MARINADE BEFORE SERVING THEM!!!!!!!! HE CUT MY KID'S F**KING STEAK UP IN THE MARINADE!!!!! WTF?!!!!! I didn't realize this until AFTER we ate. I'm completely and totally freaking out right now!!! F**king E. coli can KILL children!!! I called the Blue Cross nurses help line and she said that it's a good thing that they were marinaded for only a short period of time and in the fridge, b/c the cold made it that the bacteria probably didn't grow. The ONLY thing making it that I am not completely freaking out is that 1. he does it all of the time, and they've never gotten sick from it (my bf was like "WHAT? You do this all of the time?!!!") ; and 2. it was a really incredible and very expensive cut of meat (which is why they probably haven't ever gotten sick before, b/c they buy only the best cuts of meat). (BTW, my ds had only 3-4 small pieces, and dd had maybe 6 pieces.) OMG... please someone talk me down!

[~Demeter~]

Keri, sweetie, it's ok. I know it doesn't seem ok and it's not something that you would do but really it will be ok. Try not to work yourself up into a frenzy over it. The kids didn't eat a whole bunch and the risks are really minimal. Just watch them over the next day and see how they do. I bet their little immune systems are working just fine and if there was anything icky in there it's being fought off.

[awallrising]

Keri, I'm peeking at the July group, hope you don't mind. We're both in the Poconos.

Don't upset yourself over this please. Like the PP, I think the chances of anyone getting sick are slim. The meat would have to be contaminated & then the body would have to be receptive to the bacteria. Trust what the nurses said & keep an eye on the kids. If anything is going to happen, it will happen soon.

That being said, unless you get an assurance that they never do this again, don't eat meat at their house. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of & anyone who knows anything about meat would NEVER advise that practice.

Deep breaths & good luck!

[Prensa]

where its steaks and not chicken or seafood, there is probably very little risk of getting sick

I have heard of people eating raw red meat routinely (steak tartare, that MDC mom who's husband always eats raw burgers, carpaccio) and it just doesn't scare me the way chicken or even pork does...

especially if it was refrigerated...

I'm not saying I would recommend this practice by any means though! but I bet you and your kids will be fine

[jee'smom]

OK, I'm a little bit calmer now... thanks guys! (of course I won't be completely calm until next week- it takes about 3-4 days, sometimes up to 8- to get sick), but I'm feeling a little better.

[becoming]

Very gross and unhealthy practice, but I think they will be fine. Just watch them closely for a few days. to you, mama. I would be irate as well!!!