Food prepared by coworkers

**Megareader** · 01-04-2009, 05:39 AM

Do you eat goodies or pot-luck items that are prepared by your coworkers? I ask because for some odd reason I get nervous they have poisoned the food so I don't eat it. Maybe I've read too many mystery novels?

Seriously though...do you think I should bring this up with the shrink at my next appointment? Could this be part of my OCD?

**onencgirl** · 01-04-2009, 06:43 AM

I have a problem eating what others bring. I'm never sure how things are prepared. I know one lady that has a cat that goes all over her counters at home. She even feeds her cat on the counter. Eww.

**KKCondrey** · 01-04-2009, 09:04 AM

Everyplace I've ever worked we would alway's eat about once a month and I never had any problems with things others brought. In fact a lot of my recipes have come from former coworkers and I never would have gotten them had I not tried their food.

Where I am now we don't make plans to bring anything in as there are only ever 2 of us in there at the same time anyway (except the weeks leading up to Christmas then we bring in an extra person or two to help with the Christmas rush.) However, its not unusual for one of us to bring in leftovers or fix a small simple dish and bring it in to share.

I enjoy trying things that others have made, and never once thought that they were going to poison everyone they work with.

**Momto2Boyz** · 01-04-2009, 09:06 AM

I never had any problems eating what co-workers made for potlucks. Until one day I was eating chili that someone had brought, then found out after my bowl was half full that it had been prepared with bear meat.

Kind of grossed me out. I'm all for trying new things, but I like to know what I am eating ahead of time!

**The Muse** · 01-04-2009, 09:10 AM

I don't worry about being poisoned as much as I worry about the cleanliness of their kitchens and hidden animal ingredients. A lot of people don't realize that chicken stock and gelatin are offensive to vegetarians and I don't want to be the picky one who's always asking what's in something, so I usually steer clear.

**MTS04** · 01-04-2009, 09:13 AM

I steer clear for reasons of cleanliness and animal ingredients as well.

**DJ1972** · 01-04-2009, 09:14 AM

I only eat from dishes of people that I have personally been in their house and know them well. I am a little OCD about washing your hands while you cook, not having animals or roaches crawling on the counters, etc. My mom was the same way so that's probably where I get it. My supervisor at my previous job would always take note of who brought what and fill me in, lol. Now, if I see something interesting that I might want to make, I will ask for the recipe, I just won't eat theirs.

**annymoll** · 01-04-2009, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by DJ1972

I only eat from dishes of people that I have personally been in their house and know them well. I am a little OCD about washing your hands while you cook, not having animals or roaches crawling on the counters, etc. My mom was the same way so that's probably where I get it. My supervisor at my previous job would always take note of who brought what and fill me in, lol. Now, if I see something interesting that I might want to make, I will ask for the recipe, I just won't eat theirs.

Same for me. I am also picky abouth the restaurants we frequent. First have to check the Health Dept reports, and know who owns the establishment.

**PrairieRose** · 01-04-2009, 10:25 AM

I don't have co-workers but at any potluck I've attended I always prefer to know who made what dish.....I'm really picky about the cleanliness of the person and place the food is prepared in and by. I've never considered being poisioned.

**IntlMom** · 01-04-2009, 11:03 AM

Ok, I'm the odd one out....I've never considered not eating at potlucks. I always eat without worry at church potlucks, and when I worked, what the co-workers brought.

**Marie78** · 01-04-2009, 11:15 AM

There are 150 people where I work and I also worry about the cleanliness and conditions the food was prepared in at potlucks. There are 2 co-workers that I just don't trust and I stay away from their foods especially (you never know what others are thinking). I admit I have been more nervous about this issue in the last few months now that whatever I consume my baby consumes

.

**madhen** · 01-04-2009, 11:19 AM

I don't have a problem with it, in theory, but my office only does a potluck once a year, at Christmas, and I tend to avoid it because I'm not into the whole gift-exchange thing. When I *did* go to it, I noticed about half of what showed up was purchased, anyway (KFC chicken, container macaroni salads, etc). I think people who are lazy about hygiene in their kitchen tend to be lazy about what they are willing to prepare for others, and go buy it.

That said, since I can't remember EVER hearing any news story or reading any news article about anyone being poisoned at a potluck, I assume it is safe.

**Ilovesewing** · 01-04-2009, 11:24 AM

I have no problem with it, although I would stay away from items brought by people who are less than, er, clean.

**mhope** · 01-04-2009, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by IntlMom

Ok, I'm the odd one out....I've never considered not eating at potlucks. I always eat without worry at church potlucks, and when I worked, what the co-workers brought.

Same here.

**MisaLady** · 01-04-2009, 11:42 AM

I never worry about it. I'm sorry, but yeah, that seems a little obsessive to me, even though I'm apparently the odd man out here. It's one thing if the person always looks unkempt/gross/smells, but in general? I love potlucks.