How do you avoid eating a co-workers food that they made for an office Christmas Party?

Question

You know that they are nasty and their home is full of dogs and cats and they pet them while they cook?

Answer 1

Simply don't eat it. Don't put it on your plate. If they insist, tell them no, you don't want any. I wouldn't eat from them either and wouldn't have a problem telling them that.

Answer 2

I assume it's some type of potluck? If so, just pick and choose what you want, and walk past that person's dish. I highly doubt they'll single you out and ask why you didn't eat their dish, but if they do, just say you don't like whatever the main ingredient in it is. I had a coworker at our Thanksgiving potluck make a broccoli and cheese casserole. We were in the kitchen heating our food up, and I saw her pull it out of the microwave, stick her finger in the center of it to see if it was hot all the way through, then carry it to the table for people to eat. Needless to say, I don't know where her nasty hands have been (and she's the type who has the really long acrylic nails) and I d@mn sure didn't eat her casserole. I also told anyone who would listen not to eat it. That's just nasty. We have about 60 people in our office who attended, so this woman never noticed that I didn't eat it.

Answer 3

First, just avoid the item brought, (You can say I just dont care for **** or I'd rather not today thank you) also, all items should be marked with their name, and basic ingredients, to help those with allergic reactions. Such as Almonds, Peanuts, Fish etc. One bite of any kind of Seafood can kill my husband. We have to be extremely careful wherever we go, also, asking about cross contamination from plates of seafood, to his plate can set him off. I can only eat fish, or seafood when we go out, and have to explain all that when we place an order, this puts the liability on the server and the restaurant)
For you to assume that they are unclean cooks, is unfair despite your knowledge of their home environment. Dust and clutter is one thing but if you personally know they are living in squalor and filth they should be asked not to contribute to the potluck for the safety of all the co-workers and this can be explained in this manner: "We know you would like to contribute but from what we understand we are going to have way too much food this time around, so just come and enjoy the day". I too have DOGS, I don't pet them and stick my hands in the cookie dough, nor do I lick my fingers or spoons and or double dip, and continue baking, without washing and getting any clean utensils. I am very aware of sanitation, especially when I am cooking for potluck situations, and just for my own family. Cookie bakes that I intend to share out of the home, I wear the medical gloves to handle the cookies for packaging to transport them. Remember that this person cooking in their home is also eating the potluck foods from other people's homes as well. I do have a suggestion for everyone out there in this situation with Potluck Business Parties, draw up some simple common sense statements/rules/or considerations that protects everyone. This lets everyone know that all are at risk with cleanliness, or sanitation, cross contamination of foods etc. All too often, people just dont know how, and why. Guidelines are helpful here. Assuming is just as ignorant, and many cooks, do have bad etiquette, helping one can help all.

Answer 4

No one is going to force food down you. Eat what you like, and don't eat anything you don't care to eat. NO ONE has the right to tell you to, and for the most part no one will notice or care in the least what you eat.

(I suppose if the person in question REALLY got rude and insistent about you trying some of the food he/she made, you could pull her/him aside and say, I think I smell your dogs on that food, and I'm NOT going to eat any of it, please don't ask me again.) Oh, this is the Etiquette section, guess you'd better just not eat the food, ok?

Answer 5

Just don't eat anything. Eat before the Christmas party and say that you aren't hungry. Or just eat something else at the party, and don't eat what the nasty co-worker brought. If they ask why you aren't eating their food, say that you don't enjoy that particular food.

Answer 6

You run the risk of offending the person but what's more important? Staying healthy or being politically correct? I would do my very best not to ruffle any feathers while not eating the food, but if it came down to it, I would prefer to offend the person. Some situations are sticky and that's all there is to it. Maybe the best thing to do is to try to leave the office party really quickly after it begins. Invent a doctor's appointment or a really sick friend who needs your help, or something to that effect. Good luck.

Answer 7

Like everyone else said, just don't eat it. Stick with beverages. If they start grilling you about it, tell them you had a big lunch or breakfast with visiting family members.

Answer 8

Take everything else a bit at a time, and take theirs last of all.

When they are not watching, throw it in the bin, or wrap it in a paper servietter and throw it in the bin.

Try not to let anyone see you do it.

Cheers :-)

Answer 9

You could always say that you're allergic to one of the ingredients. No one's going to bother you if they think they'll end up giving you CPR.

Answer 10

ask that coworker what they brought, and avoid eating it...