We spent this past weekend attending a family reunion in Missouri. There were lots of lowlights from the trip including (but not limited to), Ella’s diarrhea, Ella’s vomiting, cockroaches in the bathroom of our cabin, and a verrrrrry cranky and sleep deprived Carson.
Despite the lowlights, though, there were also many highlights. One of these highlights was the acquisition of some homemade apple butter.
I LOVE apple butter! LOVE!
Imagine my disappointment when we got home and discovered that the lid of the jar of my beloved apple butter had “popped.” (You know those home canning jars with the ring and the lid…well, it wasn’t sucked down, it was popped.)
Trying to head off certain botulism poisoning, I sadly decided the apple butter would have to be tossed in the trash.
Tate WHOLEHEARTEDLY disagreed. “NO, no, no, no, no. We are NOT throwing it away. Let’s smell it,” he said, trying to convince me that this not-properly-sealed apple butter was fine for human consumption.
I have NO IDEA if botulism or any other death-inducing food disease even has an odor, so smelling it wasn’t going to change my mind. I stood firmly behind my decision to throw out the apple butter.
Tate STILL disagreed. “See? It tastes fine!” he said after dipping his finger in the diseased apple butter. “I bet it was made just a few days ago, we’re keeping it!”
“Fine, Tate. Keep it. I don’t care if it was made this morning, I won’t eat it! And! I don’t want the kids to eat it either, because it will make them SICK.”
Very often, Tate and I disagree about food safety issues. He has no problem (barely) reheating food that has been in the fridge for DAYS. I won’t touch leftovers after about two or three days. If food has been sitting out for too long, I won’t eat it, but Tate would probably eat potato salad that had been sunbathing for three hours. He regularly gets annoyed by my “overzealous” and “ridiculous” attempts to keep my family free of food-borne diseases.
What do you think? Should we keep the apple butter or throw it away?
(PS, I’m merely curious as to what you think. Unless you have a Ph.D in Food Safety, you probably aren’t going to change my mind.)
Nope – wouldn’t eat it. Not a chance.
I throw out any dairy products 1 to 2 days BEFORE the expiry.
I’m ridiculous about this stuff.
Teris last blog post..L is for….
I am super neurotic about somethings (no shoes in the house grinding every bit of everything you stepped in and walked over that day into the carpet, no sir, no way, no how) but food? Meh. I dang near caused a civil war by eating a cheeseburger of (then) un-known origin I found in the microwave (later realized it was ONLY two days old – what’s the big?) D is MUCH pickier and choosier; I’m guessing if the same thing happened here I would be eating me some toast w/ apple butter for days while D stood by all huffing, sighing and being generally disproving (and missing out on the love in a jar that is apple butter mmmmm). Too bad for him – more for me.
CharmingDrivers last blog post..Innernetz, Y’all are BUSY
i’m with you – why take a chance? there are lots of ways to get sick that we *can’t* avoid…why add to the risks? plus…i think you’re right, i don’t think you can smell botulism. i’m skipping tomatoes too.
phylliss last blog post..Beautiful Wedding
I wouldn’t keep it and I’m not “ridiculous” about food safety.
Queen of Shake Shakes last blog post..Wally & Heather Sitting in a Tree Not K-I-S-S-I-N-G!
I would have to say throw it out.
Make some Apple Butter of your own. That way you can refrigerate it immediately.
I found a recipe on someone’s blog recently and it was WAY easier than I thought. If I figure out where I saw it, I’ll let you know…
Melodys last blog post..a/k/a time flies when you’re… oh never mind
NO WAY, sooo wouldn’t eat it. No question.
MommyCosms last blog post..Still here?
I’m in between you two… I tend to be observant on dates I know, but am perfectly happy in the “what I don’t know won’t kill me” realm.
And I’d throw it out, because it was homemade.
Corporations have to put extra conservative dates on things to 1) protect themselves from lawsuit, or alternatively, 2) get consumers to buy more product. (if you thought those dates were about the consumer, you’re half right)
Briannes last blog post..Thoughts and prayers needed
Toss it. Even if it’s fine, you might talk yourself into being sick if you eat it . . . I would.
meps last blog post..Child’s Play the Prequel: Here’s "Bucky" . . .
The organism that causes Botulism, the endospore of Clostridium botulinum, releases a neurotoxin when it germinates in food. You can boil the apple butter for 15 minutes (just prior to serving) and then safely eat it, because the toxin will be destroyed. I just got that from my microbiology book.
Eh, it would depend. If I KNEW the jar was ok when I bought it…and I just bought it and somehow it got opened or something…I would probably keep it. But with unknowns such as bought it yesterday, can’t remember if the button was popped or not, etc…I would toss it. When it doubt, throw it out!
I have an issue with the food thing with the ILs. They have no problem leaving things out all day, NOT iced, and saying it is ok. Hell, my FIL dug out BLACK BANANAS out of the trash once saying they were fine to eat. BLACK BANANAS OUT OF THE TRASH, PEOPLE!!!!!!
These are also the same people that buy milk rarely because they only put it in their coffee…and they never check to see if the milk is good. I am an avid milk and bread sniffer….when we lived there before Babyhead was born, I would sniff the milk and it would be rancid…and MIL would say it was ok since they never tasted it anyway, they only put it in their coffee!!!!!! EEEEEEEEWWWWWWW!!!!!!!! And these are the people that always complain of stomach issues….
However, if you are not comfortable with it…throw it out. It isn’t ultimately worth the risk.
Sandys last blog post..Blessed Relief…
Ok…on first read I thought you said Ella vomited cockroaches in your cabin.
P.S. Now I’m vomitting.
Greta/Does This Blog Make Us Look Fats last blog post..Chocolate Deprivation Causes Aggression (From the Best of Kiki)
If it was sealed when you bought it, I’d keep it. If it was already popped, I’d toss it.
Mmmmm, apple butter.
I’d find out when it was made first, but unless it was made that morning or the night before, I’d throw it out.
Hillarys last blog post..Dear Construction Workers in My Backyard,
toss it. I’ve had major food poisoning 2x (medicated, weeks of lost work…) and I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone — the Apple Butter isn’t worth it.
Katias last blog post..my new laundry center — Maytag Epic-Z
I actually have a semi-educated opinion about this. (My grandma, aunts, and mother did/do regulary can things. Mom just canned peaches this weekend.)
You would have to know when it was processed. Sometimes they just don’t seal properly when they are canned. If it was within the last day or so, you can refrigerate it and eat it immediately, any longer than that, and it should always be tossed.
If you don’t know when it was processed, or know for sure it wasn’t just processed a day or two before you got it, it definitely needs to be thrown out. It might be fine, especially if it just didn’t seal. But you should ALWAYS err on the side of caution where canned food is concerned.
You did the right thing, in my opinion.
Robins last blog post..Woohoo!
Eh, something like that? I’ll toss it. Other stuff I’m a little more lax on…
Want me to send you some? I think the place that makes it locally is open. If not, I’ll send it as soon as it does open.
Let me know. I’d hate for you not to have an apple butter fix!
CourtneyRyans last blog post..hairiffic haiku!
Toss! I’m a freak about expiration dates..and I won’t even drink milk that is within the date but hasn’t been opened in several days (like if we’re gone for a weekend or something). Yet I’ll eat raw dough, even though husband goes apesh*t if I do (raw eggs!). I can understand that HUGE letdown from so much excitement dashed – damn canning jars!!!
Molly’s Moms last blog post..Father’s Day
This may make you hate me, but I was just reminded of this:
Throwing Caution to the Wind
I stayed out of that because I acted innappropriately when Y asked (I flew out of control, like a crazed lunatic, and people got very upset with me). I’m very careful about food stuff. Don’t see the point in chancing sickness it for any reason.
(besides, making cookie dough to eat WITHOUT raw eggs in it is totally easy)
Anyway, I’d toss it and call up the relative that makes it to see if they’ll send you some in the mail. Then you’ll all be happy.
((please don’t hate me now!))
Sarcastic Moms last blog post..I’m not bitter at all. Really.
Knowing how wonderful that apple butter is makes this even worse!!! But I’m with you. I would have to throw it out..sob, sob. GOOD NEWS I have 3 jars that we ended up with at the reunion…..so I will send one your way (hope it has it’s seal)
Toss it.
My former bachelor husband used to regularly poison himself with food that was not fit for human consumption.
I saw let’s all learn to make our own apple butter!
Connies last blog post..There is something worse….
I’d taste it at least. I mean APPLE BUTTER? I’d at least TRY.
On another note I have a ‘story’ about homemade apple butter, but it’s more of a post, so I won’t bore you.
Good&Crazys last blog post..You Random Winner You.
Sarcastic Mom…You are now banned from my blog.
Just kidding!
I was going to link that post, but didn’t have time. Something about eating raw cookie dough just doesn’t seem AS bad as botulism tainted apple butter. I still feel uncomfortable letting Carson lick the cookie dough off the beaters, just for the record.
oye. toss it. toss it now. i’m breaking out in hives at the thought that Tate ate some of it. Ewwww…
Mama DBs last blog post..Happy Father’s Day, Love
I agree with you, I’d throw it out. Why risk it?!
(but, just so you know, I hate apple butter, so I’d throw it out even if the thingie wasn’t popped!)
Have the T-Shirts last blog post..Don’t Forget the Sunscreen
I have taken food science courses at my university, and the first thing they tell you is “When in doubt, throw it out!” I also know some nasty little beasties love to grow in homemade canned goods. Bummer about the apple butter, but you’re right about tossing it.
Baby Bs last blog post..About My Dad
I’d throw it out too! I’m crazy about food stuff though, and my husband is more like Tate. I throw milk out as soon as it hits the sell by date…my husband says it’s just the sell by date, not the consume by date so that it’s still good a few days afterwards. He, too, will eat leftovers that have been in the fridge for a week. Yuck!
PITCH IT!
You can always go to Anderson’s Orchard and buy some fresh, not deadly stuff. It’s not all that far from you, and totally worth the drive.
Also, is Tate from Indiana? Because I fight with my in-laws over that same issue. They will put out a turkey at 12:00 on Thansgiving and still be eating at its fly-ravaged carcass at 10:00 that night. Grosses.me.out.
Burgh Babys last blog post..Hoping I Didn’t Forget Anybody
eh.. I would not eat it either. My guy and I disagree on that stuff too. he eats old lunch meat.. scares the heck outta me. I would not eat that stuff. ew.
I’ll make you some apple butter
Beyond that, unless you know the source I wouldn’t eat it if it was popped. It could have been made that day, but you just don’t know…and it’s best not to risk it
Sarahs last blog post..Keeping it positive
Diarrhea, vomiting and cockroaches, oh my. Poor you.
You could always have your husband eat the apple butter and see what happens. If he vomits, lesson learned.
Beths last blog post..overweight
Beth, I like the way you think! Maybe I’ll make Tate some biscuits for dinner and let him smear the tainted apple butter all over them!
Mwah, ha, ha!!
My husband, who works in the food production industry, would immediately say “THROW IT OUT!”.
I would too, and I’m just a Mom.
I’m sure you could find an easy recipe for apple butter somewhere…
I don’t have any credentials but I think you are OK to eat it within a few days. I remember when my grandmother canned stuff the tops that popped were the cans we ate immediately?
HRHs last blog post..Monday’s potluck of tangential proportions…
Toss it. I’m generally relaxed (like that word? I do!) about food much like Tate is. However, botulism isn’t anything to be relaxed about. Ever. I hate hate haaate throwing away “good food”, but that’s a risk I won’t take. It’s not like regular food poisoning. It’s life poisoning.
If Tate disagrees, toss it when he’s not around or “accidentally” drop/spill the jar until it’s empty.
Kellys last blog post..My Babies Daddy
I would throw it out – then send hubby to the nearby (hour away) apple orchard to buy me some!
Cathys last blog post..Where the Rope Ends
I would probably eat it. I would! I’m not a spaz about that kind of stuff. I wouldn’t let the kids eat it, though, until I was sure I didn’t get sick from it.
Tonis last blog post..All Boy
there is NOT a chance i would eat it. no way. my husband, on the other hand, would TOTALLY eat it!
alis last blog post..Rockstar Hotel, Rockstar Style….
I can’t eat ANY suspect food. I have a hard time even reheating leftover, so I think it is safe to say that I would be in your corner on this issue.
Loralees last blog post..Looking for advice. Blog comments, stats, ranks, and wondering how to deal (or not) with them.
I am completely paranoid about food safety. I don’t eat anything that has been sitting out. Milk gets thrown out on the day after the sell by date. I would toss the apple butter too.
Someone Being Mes last blog post..Another weekend…
Oh, boy! It’s a Jennifer/Tate battle. I’m on your side, honey. That is GROSS. Toss it. I don’t think men get it until they are retching their intestines out from poisoning.
Anglophile Football Fanatics last blog post..Crying Over Spilled Milk (of Magnesia)
I am practically an honorary member of the food safety police. And I would not put even a dab of that apple butter in my mouth for a thousand dollars. Ha! When I was a daycare provider, one of the professional development classes I took was on “germs & illness” and I learned that many of the stomach maladies we suffer from on not really viruses at all, but varying degrees of food poisoning. We chalk it up to a virus because whole families appear to pass it to each other, but honestly, families usually eat the same meal too. I found that information quite inetresting & I am very careful with food!
Dawns last blog post..Friday’s Feast: June 16, 2008
I wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole….my hubby would. No advice, just know how you feel!
Jens last blog post..Can’t Stop Snappin’
no no no no no!!! i’m totally with you on this one.
throw. it. out! *shudder*
the planet of janets last blog post..Fun Monday: Ting tang WALLa WALLa bing bang edition
I have to admit it, I’m a smeller. Even if funkalicious food doesn’t have a smell, I base it on smell.
So if it smelled okay and wasn’t sitting in the sun, I probably would eat it.
Janines last blog post..Butterfly.
I SOOOO HEART the ‘butter too and wouldnt risk it.
thats saying a LOT.
MizFits last blog post..Just now getting to my email….
Last year a guy over here (Australia) got botulism poisoning from a pre-packaged nachos product. at last report (family shunned publicity, so no idea how he is now) he was PARALYSED from the botulism. I’m on your side: throw it out!
Of course, my husband would do what Tate did. My husband, who didn’t understand why I insisted on throwing out a stew that he had forgotten to put in the fridge and so had been sitting out ALL NIGHT.
toss it!
Devans last blog post..The Trip
I think you should spread it on some salmonella spiked tomatoes and serve it to Tate on some moldy whole grain bread!
I would toss it!
Alisons last blog post..A Pox Upon My House
Sounds like Tate and my partner have very similar ideas about food.
My motto? If in doubt, throw it out. I have had food poisoning once (not from my own kitchen) and I never EVER want to go through that again.
(And now I’m really curious, I know what lemon butter is and how to make it, but what is apple butter?)
Veronicas last blog post..Pregnancy Tests
I’m no expert, but if it was still sealed and not popped up when you bought it, I’d keep it. How much time went between buying it and noticing it popped?
Christinas last blog post..Haiku Friday: Hair Dreams or Nightmares