Stores’ Yule grub must be scoffed early
SUPERMARKETS are flogging mince pies and other Christmas treats that must be scoffed weeks early.
Tesco’s festive pack of Mr Kipling Chocolate Orange Whirls should be eaten by Guy Fawkes Night.
Sainsbury’s iced mince pies are best enjoyed as early as tomorrow.
And Marks and Spencer’s own label all-butter mince pies should be eaten by October 27.
Food experts say “best before” dates are a guide to freshness and most products will be safe to eat after these times, provided they are stored correctly.
A Tesco spokesman said: “These products are popular with customers who are keen to get an early taste of our festive offering and are already planning for the big day.”
And they delight when Valentino expresses himself with cuddles for mum.
Jean-Christophe, who has two older sons with Michelle and a daughter from his first marriage, says: “It’s a lot to take in. We just think oh my god, can we not just give this boy a break?
“He’s been on a real long journey though and if he can beat cancer, he can handle this. He’s a little fighter and we are looking on the positive side.
“He won’t let me hold him or kiss him, he wants his mum. The boys say ‘can I kiss him’? But he has his ways and his ways are only mummy.”
The chef was speaking at his Hertfordshire home – also HQ of his cookery school Novelli Academy and restaurant. He says that despite everything, the family count their blessings that Valentino’s cancer battle is over.
He adds: “When Michelle told me he has severe autism I just thought ‘thank f***, at least he’s alive’. Even in this situation, we are very, very privileged, we live in a great country.
“And thanks to the NHS. We were fortunate – sadly, some people aren’t as lucky.”
The family learned Valentino had the rare genetic condition Microdeletion Syndrome while he was having cancer treatment.
Half of children with the condition grow up problem-free. The rest can develop learning difficulties, schizophrenia or autism. Michelle, 44, says: “When we were told, I had so much going on in my head I just cared about him recovering from the illness.”
But the family became aware of behavioural traits connected to autism, which affects 700,000 people in the UK.
Michelle adds: “He’s a solitary child. He likes to play alone and I had noticed that for some time.
“He has coloured blocks which he lines up and gets upset if anyone moves them. I’d never seen that – my other two just played with each other and reached milestones at similar times. Valentino is stand-out different but we thought it might be from the chemotherapy at first.
“His speech hasn’t developed the way you might expect. He just wasn’t talking at all. He can’t even say ‘Mummy’ or ‘Daddy’. It was hard at first because our other boys struggled to bond with him
He has been through so much... can we not give poor mite a break?
TV CHEF AND FIANCEE ON PLUCKY SON VALENTINO
as he likes to play alone, but they have a game now where they throw him on the bed and he likes that.” Doctors confirmed Valentino’s condition last week. Michelle says: “When they told me. I wasn’t surprised. I knew he had it. When I got home, it hit me and I was upset about it. The poor little mite has been through so much.”
The family are now on a mission to learn more about the disorder.
Jean-Christophe, 58, says: “We are getting to the stage where they might start testing for more things like schizophrenia. That worries us, of course.”