Gnawed Potatoes Safe to Eat?

[Bramleyapple]

Hi Everyone, I hope someone can advise me. I stored my potatoes in our garage, as last year, and a rat (identified from droppings) has gnawed through the sacks and demolished a number of tubers while taking random bites out of others. Many are still OK but I'm wondering if they will be safe to eat. I'd hate to throw away my hard-earned crop!

[Potstubsdustbins]

My main concern would be urine. Rats urine spreads a particulary nasty disease which I can't for the life of me remember what its called.

Colin

[veggiechicken]

Weils Disease! I don't think I'd risk eating them.

[scarletrunner]

Destroy them now!

[Bramleyapple]

That's Weil's Disease or Leptospirosis. The potatoes don't smell of anything and I would think that the urine would smell. I've washed them all and they are now drying. According to a Leptospirosis advice site I just visited,(thank heaven for the internet ), the organisms that cause the disease cannot survive on anything that is dry. Now I need to find another storage area - not easy - cold porch? loft cupboard????

[scarletrunner]

Doesn't matter as long as you are not considering eating them!

[veggiechicken]

I still wouldn't risk eating them, washed or not. Any little hole in your spuds could absorb urine and potatoes are full of moisture anyway. Why gamble with your health?

[Bramleyapple]

About to throw out my lovely crop

[veggiechicken]

Wise move, Bramley. You wouldn't be happy eating them anyway - knowing that a rat might have peed on them

[scarletrunner]

A shame i know,but am glad to hear you are not taking the risk!

[Potstubsdustbins]

I have to confess I had an idea what the disease was called but I wouldn't dare incase I spelled it incorrectly which may well have upset some of our Welsh grapes.

Potty.

[veggiechicken]

Its certainly not Welsh disease, Potty or even Wales disease - I think they are akin to leek rot

[Aberdeenplotter]

I'm surprised no one has suggesting putting down rat bait or setting traps

[veggiechicken]

I'm surprised no one has suggesting putting down rat bait or setting traps

But that wasn't the question AP and you know we never stray off-topic

[Snadger]

I don't store my potatoes in bags. I leave em in the ground, wait until the rats start to dig em out of the ground then I dig up a shye at a time as needed just to pee off the rats!