Am I in trouble?

[nancys]

This afternoon I bought chicken salad from Newk's (yum), and accidentally left it in my car from 5:00 to 9:00 this evening.

It wasn't a blazing hot afternoon, but when I remembered to bring the container in, it was pretty much room temperature.

I could not stop myself from eating it -- it is SO good, but the whole time, I kept thinking about salmonella, or botulism, or whatever bacteria is associated with unrefrigerated chicken.

It has been a couple of hours since I ate, and I feel fine so far. I am wondering how long it takes for the trouble to begin, and thinking I might need to pack an overnight bag in case I have to make a run to the hospital in the wee hours of the night.

I truly am nervous, and I wish that I had shown better self-control, but I didn't...

Am I doomed?

 

[low-key]

you will be worshiping tonight at the throne in the bathroom

 

[pat fan]

I hope not, but I would not be surprised at all if you do get sick. I work in food service, and what you describe is a very unsafe thing to eat. There really is no prevention to be had now, either you will get sick or not, but I suggest saving the container (and any remaining food) in case they need to test it. Next time, just chuck it and buy some more tomorrow.

I hope you do not get sick, but if you do, please call Dr. right away.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

First ewwwww, I like my chicken salad super cold. And I'm willing to bet your more likely to make yourself sick from worrying than actually from your chicken salad sitting out.

I swear I did that to myself once. I was so convinced I was getting the stomach flu that I got sick once and I swear it was all mental!

 

[Aisling]

You won't get sick. I promise. Come back tomorrow and thank me for my psychic abilities! Seriously!

 

[ilovepcot]

I'm with Aisling on this...I think you're going to be okay. Please post an update so we can see how we did guessing with your health.

 

[hambirg]

Eh. . .I agree with the two PPs. You will be fine. We would be shocked and appalled how some people throughout the world eat. . .yet they survive just fine.

 

[dnoyes]

This afternoon I bought chicken salad from Newk's (yum), and accidentally left it in my car from 5:00 to 9:00 this evening.

It wasn't a blazing hot afternoon, but when I remembered to bring the container in, it was pretty much room temperature.

I could not stop myself from eating it -- it is SO good, but the whole time, I kept thinking about salmonella, or botulism, or whatever bacteria is associated with unrefrigerated chicken.

It has been a couple of hours since I ate, and I feel fine so far. I am wondering how long it takes for the trouble to begin, and thinking I might need to pack an overnight bag in case I have to make a run to the hospital in the wee hours of the night.

I truly am nervous, and I wish that I had shown better self-control, but I didn't...

Am I doomed?

I hope you didn't leave the toilet paper in the car.

 

[Aisling]

I hope you didn't leave the toilet paper in the car.

What????

 

[nancys]

Thanks so much for all the comments; loved the toilet paper one!

I know I was stupid, but I hope the posters who are predicting that I will not have to pay dearly are correct.

Hopefully, my update will not be made from a hospital bed.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I just read recently (Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, Woman's Day, Woman's World, or First) that the acid in the mayonnaise actually protects it from going bad.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I wouldn't worry about the chicken, it was fully cooked. It's the mayo I'd be scared of. But honestly, since it's been this many hours, you will probably be just fine.

 

[IDoDis]

I also vote that you'll be fine. Many people take chicken salad sandwiches in their lunch every day where the lunch is not refrigerated. It's not the best scenario, but you left yours in the car during the evening. It was probably warmest from 5-6 but after that not as bad.

You'll be fine. That will be $100 please.

 

[fireflymedic]

cold keeps bacteria from growing so when it heated up in the car any bacteria in it would have started to multiply, the question is how much if any bacteria was in it. and of that bacteria is it a type that can live through your stomich acid. most cant of course but if it can and it makes it to the colon you may get the ....

hopefuly the store keeps all the surfeses clean and little bac. was in your food.

at least I'm sure you smelled it and it smelled tasted OK so you will prob. be fine.

 

[npmommie]

I think you will be fine too.
but the big question is , what is Newks's??? LOL
we don't have them around here, and now I want some chicken salad

 

[krcit]

Yikes!! I'm curious as to how you made out OP. I'm crazy with food safety and I'd be a wreck

 

[ols386]

By this point in time, if the op was going to be sick, I think she would be, by now. Hope not.

 

[tasha99]

I bet it was okay. When I lived in Japan and Korea, people refrigerated a lot less. My host mom in Japan would leave dinner out neatly on the counter and we'd have it for breakfast. Never once did anyone get sick. We're hypervigilant in the US.

 

[MIGrandma]

I wouldn't have eaten it, but do hope the OP didn't have any problems.

My friend ate a container of yogurt after it had sat out on the counter all night. She paid for it later that day.

I remember, as a kid, visiting relatives (my Dad's) in Texas, and staying a couple weeks with Grandma in the summer. She would serve Sunday dinner, then instead of putting everything in the frig and getting it out later for the evening meal, she just threw a clean tablecloth over the food on the dining room table and when people got hungry again, they ate it. We never got sick. But I can't imagine doing that anymore!!

 

[JessicaR]

So, you OK? Hope so!