Eating meals at friends / family's homes

Tiddlywinks

Frugalsod wrote: »

Ultimately if you live in an ultra clean environment you never develop any immunity to bacteria and disease. When I was a child I ate anything I could get my hands on, worms, snails, mud, etc,. My parents commented on when I was at school I very rarely had any days off school apart from the usual childhood viruses. As an adult I have had barely a day ill with the usual conditions. It is the same with allergies. If you are not exposed as a child you become allergic later in life. Your body needs to get used to what is normal.

If you consider this situation at the MIL's to be 'normal' then I wouldn't be accepting your offer of tea and a cake any time soon!

OP - you need to have a heart to heart with your OH about his mum and how she lives.

Remind him of the food poisoning episode and say you are not prepared to take the risk.

Finally, he needs to broach the subject with his mum as it is a real shame that this is blighting your relationships with her.

pinkshoes

How about a compromise?

Tell her you've also bought food and wanted to cook, so you will cook at her house. Turn up early armed with cleaning products, and blitz the place so it's immaculate!

Or invite her to cook at yours?

Errata

Frugalsod wrote: »

Ultimately if you live in an ultra clean environment you never develop any immunity to bacteria and disease. When I was a child I ate anything I could get my hands on, worms, snails, mud, etc,. My parents commented on when I was at school I very rarely had any days off school apart from the usual childhood viruses. As an adult I have had barely a day ill with the usual conditions. It is the same with allergies. If you are not exposed as a child you become allergic later in life. Your body needs to get used to what is normal.

Fair enough, but bacteria - eg the salmonella under the lavatory rim, doesn't cause allergies, it can cause death. The OP's MIL's house doesn't appear to occupy the same planet as 'normal'.

ariba10

Is it "One side of a story"?

paulineb_2

You are putting your kids at risk of being ill if you go there, which is awful, you are old enough to make up your own mind but they need to go along if you say yes.

Put your foot down

paulineb_2

ariba10 wrote: »

Is it "One side of a story"?

What other side could there be? The house is clean?

sleepymans

Having known people who ended up on kidney dialysis due to eating listeria infected sandwiches (from an aiport shop) NO I wouldnt eat there, nor allow my kids to, either.

Why risk it??

tinkerfairy

If my husband gave his version of the story he would tell you the same about the house but just add that she has bought loads of food, invited his brother and that I can't tell him what to do.

I will never forget the xmas after we got married. She forgot to get the turkey out of the freezer on time so cooked it half frozen and served it up still pink lol. We stayed over then and I wanted a bath but after scrubbing and scrubbing the bath and still not having removed half of the lime scale and scum off the bath gave up and went home.

He is always telling her meat isn't cooked and she insists it is and always having to wash cups out so he can have a drink. He told me himself last week her fridge is all mouldy inside and theres a huge browny red puddle in there that looks like blood from meat and it stinks.

paulineb_2

If you have to go over there, get a takeaway, seriously.

And from this year onwards, if you see her, she comes over to yours

Bennifred

tinkerfairy wrote: »

If my husband gave his version of the story he would tell you the same about the house but just add that she has bought loads of food, invited his brother and that I can't tell him what to do.

I will never forget the xmas after we got married. She forgot to get the turkey out of the freezer on time so cooked it half frozen and served it up still pink lol. We stayed over then and I wanted a bath but after scrubbing and scrubbing the bath and still not having removed half of the lime scale and scum off the bath gave up and went home.

He is always telling her meat isn't cooked and she insists it is and always having to wash cups out so he can have a drink. He told me himself last week her fridge is all mouldy inside and theres a huge browny red puddle in there that looks like blood from meat and it stinks.

Indeed. That works both ways though, surely?
I find it hard to believe that anyone would knowingly put their children at risk of food poisoning. If your husband is being irresponsible then it is up to you to make a stand. For goodness' sake - Just say (and mean) no!