302028 Mon May 15 10:50:14 -0700 2006 15 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1688132 I was SO looking forward to my lunch today.... I had people over for brunch yesterday and I got a bunch of food from Russ & Daughters appetizing store here in NYC. I specifically bought extra whitefish salad so that I would have some for lunch during the week. So last night before I went to bed, I packed up a container and left it on the top shelf of my refrigerator (along with sliced tomato in a separate tupperware). This morning, when I went to get my daughter's milk out of the refrigerator at 6:15, the containers were sitting on the counter. I was wracking my brain thinking "I didn't leave this out, did I?". Then I realized that my husband (who goes to sleep much later than I do) must have gotten some soda out of the refrigerator some time between midnight and 2:00am and he forgot to put my lunch back in. I stuck the containers back in the refrigerator where they stayed until 8:30 when I left for work. I wasn't sure what to do so I brought the food with me and figured I'd turn to Chowhounds for advice. I've never been afraid of food poisoning (and thankfully never gotten it before), but now I'm a little concerned. Mostly because I'm 5 months pregnant and the last thing I feel like having is food poisoning. The whitefish salad was on the counter for between 4 and 6 hours...what do you think? Should I eat it or toss it? (I'm sure I know what the answer will be but I want it so badly!) Thanks. Mon May 15 10:50:14 -0700 2006 0 valerie 1 1688133 why risk it.... Mon May 15 10:52:34 -0700 2006 1688132 0 taxchic 1 1688134 I wouldn't risk it if I weren't pregnant, let alone risk it while pregnant! Mon May 15 10:55:16 -0700 2006 1688132 0 boogiebaby 1 1688135 I wouldn't touch it sitting there that long let alone pregnant either. Sorry to say but I'd toss it. Mon May 15 10:58:08 -0700 2006 1688132 0 sivyaleah 1 1688136 I know that everyone is right. I will toss it (and make my husband go back to get me more!). Thanks. Mon May 15 11:06:48 -0700 2006 1688132 0 valerie 1 1688137 If you have the slightest doubt, Toss it. NEVER take a chance... Mon May 15 11:07:16 -0700 2006 1688132 0 beevod 2 1688328 Exactly...!...! When in doubt, THROW IT OUT. Tue May 16 23:12:49 -0700 2006 1688137 0 Cheese Boy 1 1688138 Whitefish is on the "avoid due to mercury levels" list for pregnancy. It's not completely banned, but it's on a pretty long list of fish that you're not supposed to eat more than once a month and only in limited quantity. If you've had any canned tuna this month, you're already at your allotment. Mon May 15 11:10:30 -0700 2006 1688132 0 the donut 2 1688141 Thank you for your (off-topic) advice. However, you are incorrect with regard to whitefish. Whitefish happens to be on the "lowest mercury" list. See link. Link: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/fishmercury.htm Mon May 15 11:26:37 -0700 2006 1688138 0 valerie 3 1688160 Guess it depends on who you ask. It's on the avoid list from my ob (I'm pregnant right now). I used to eat a lot of sushi pre-pregnancy and mercury is cumulative, so maybe I get the extra cautious list. Link: http://www.mercola.com/2001/apr/25/mercury_fish.htm Mon May 15 14:59:13 -0700 2006 1688141 0 the donut 4 1688185 I am also prgenant right now and it is on my "avoid" list as well, however for different reasons I believe. I have been told it is due to the "smoked" factor... same with smoked salmon, etc. Was told to avoid smoked foods. I absolutely LOVE whitefish salad and used to eat it two times a week for lunch, along with tuna salad...so bummed... As for spoilage, I am overly cuatious and throw out anything I am unsure about... Good luck with the baby! Mon May 15 18:08:33 -0700 2006 1688160 0 Michele 3 1688182 It was on my low levels list when I was pregnant in 2003, but I just had a baby 6 months ago and this time around whitefish was on the high level list. I guess it depends on who you ask. Mon May 15 17:50:13 -0700 2006 1688141 0 boogiebaby 2 1688171 According to the EPA website whitefish is in the lower level group. However, their data for this is based on 28 samples taken from 2002-2004 so it could very well be outdated, which seems to bring us back to where we started... Mon May 15 16:45:43 -0700 2006 1688138 0 Morgan 1 1688149 Toss it... but make your husband go back down with an ice chest to Russ & Daughters and get you some fresh. Mon May 15 12:37:54 -0700 2006 1688132 0 Das Ubergeek 1 1688151 Have your husband try it first and see what happens if you don't want to toss it! Mon May 15 13:05:06 -0700 2006 1688132 0 Pablo 1 1688153 Put it this way - would you eat tuna or egg salad you left out overnight? Same deal, just with whitefish instead of another ingredient. Mon May 15 13:19:09 -0700 2006 1688132 0 MikeG