How long can you leave cream cheese out before it is considered harmful to eat? (hives, ears)

[green_mariner]

Last night there was cream cheese that was left out for 3 hours. It was garlic and chives-flavored cream cheese spread. I put it in the refrigerator after the fact. I am tempted to eat it, but I am wondering if it would make me sick if I ate it. How long can you leave cream cheese out before it is harmful for eating?

[robertjohnson]

Don't eat it whatever you do!
I'll be by in an hour to pick it up and dispose of
it properly by putting it on bagels and eating it.
No need to thank me. It's a public service I do.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by robertjohnson

Don't eat it whatever you do!
I'll be by in an hour to pick it up and dispose of
it properly by putting it on bagels and eating it.
No need to thank me. It's a public service I do.

What are you really saying?

[Okiegirlfriend]

http://www.nsf.org/consumer/newsroom..._leftovers.pdf

It says leftovers should be refrigerated after 4 hours.

[Macrina]

I think you are OK with eating it; by its very nature, cheese is an aged product....so a little more 'aging' doesn't generally hurt. Just MHO.

[TKramar]

I think it's funny how we purposefully make some foods go "bad" so that they will be considered "good" to eat.

Sauerkraut, sour cream, beer and wine, etc.

[Macrina]

True, dat! Especially thinking about the wine making, which is an over 6000 years old tradition (at least the part we know about....)

Originally Posted by TKramar

I think it's funny how we purposefully make some foods go "bad" so that they will be considered "good" to eat.

Sauerkraut, sour cream, beer and wine, etc.

[GloryB]

If it doesn't take 'tingly' on your tongue, it should be just fine. If I'm wrong....then you'll be in the bathroom while cussing my name.

[green_mariner]

I hope it's okay. Don't tell me what I want to hear, just the truth.

[Woof Woof Woof!]

I'd say a month and a half, no more.