Should I eat these?

May 3, 2018 6:47 PM

Accidentally put some grapes through the wash. I had one bunch in my bag and forgot about them after dumping my bag in the washing basket intending to take the grapes out later, so they went for a spin after I emptied the basket into the machine. They've mostly all split and come off the stem, but stayed in the bag apart from a few strays. I guess I'm mostly wondering how much chemicals and whatnot they might've absorbed after splitting and marinating in washing powder stew for an hour. They smell slightly like washing powder even after a quick wash (in the sink) and sitting in a bowl of tap water for a while.

About me: in my twenties, healthy immune system, kinda broke, don't have high standards for what goes down the gullet but if it's more chemicals than nutrition I guess I'll skip it.

posted by womb of things to be and tomb of things that were to Food & Drink (18 answers total)

If you really want to eat these, I would look at the ingredients in your washing powder, Google the toxicity of each, and then decide. I'm guessing it's probably not a great idea and I'm sure they will taste terrible even if they won't kill you.
posted by lollusc at 6:51 PM on May 3, 2018

Perhaps the Wikipedia article consumption of Tide Pods would provide good leads.
posted by XMLicious at 6:52 PM on May 3, 2018

No.
posted by macapes at 6:54 PM on May 3, 2018

NO!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:56 PM on May 3, 2018

I would not eat the soapy grapes.

I don’t think you’ll be in mortal danger if you try, but it sounds unpleasant and depressing and you’ll probably get a bad stomach ache.
posted by castlebravo at 6:57 PM on May 3, 2018

What? No, you should not eat the grapes that went through the washing machine.

Do you have any bedside lasagna that we also need to discuss?
posted by medusa at 6:58 PM on May 3, 2018

Why are these grapes so important that you’d still want to eat them after going through a wash cycle? So, no.
posted by _Mona_ at 6:58 PM on May 3, 2018

You'd probably be fine but even if you're on a very limited budget, this seems taking things a bit too far. They aren't going to taste good.
posted by Aranquis at 7:01 PM on May 3, 2018

I eat basically anything, and doubly so if my cat's licked it first, but I would not eat this.
posted by kalimac at 7:06 PM on May 3, 2018

They are probably also full of all the body and world dirt that came off your clothes. Give these grapes back to the earth. I will PayPal you $5 for some new grapes.
posted by bleep at 7:17 PM on May 3, 2018

So these grapes split and absorbed washing water and you want to eat them? That sounds disgusting.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:17 PM on May 3, 2018

99% of the time my answer to "should I eat...." questions is yes.

Do not eat this grapes. I don't like wasting food, but come on. No.
posted by ELind at 7:21 PM on May 3, 2018

Grapes are kind of notorious for absorbing whatever contaminant chemicals are in the soil and groundwater that they grow in.
posted by eviemath at 7:23 PM on May 3, 2018

I recently bought a chest freezer at an auction and considered eating the unlabeled food that was inside with no information about its previous storage, I am the queen of eating things others will not. I would not eat this.
posted by corb at 7:36 PM on May 3, 2018

This is a shockingly bad idea. No. Please no.
posted by shesaysgo at 7:42 PM on May 3, 2018

GOODNESS I thought everyone would be telling me that I was overreacting! Well I'm glad I asked. I ate a few non-split ones that were still on the stem (tasted fine, grapey and not washing powder-y. No stomach aches so far) but on reading the thread I chucked the rest.
posted by womb of things to be and tomb of things that were at 8:05 PM on May 3, 2018

soap residue can give you diarrhea. This is why you need to rinse dishes with clean water after washing in soapy water (if you handwash dishes)
posted by WeekendJen at 8:20 AM on May 4, 2018

It was smart not to eat the split ones, because they probably split due to the liquid they had absorbed.
posted by jamjam at 9:54 AM on May 4, 2018