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Original poster

Would you eat cake baked by a colleague?

180 replies

Seniorschoolmum · 27/04/2019 07:01

Recently someone had a significant birthday, and two colleagues brought in home made cakes. Both beautifully decorated.

Yet a couple of people declined a slice, saying they never eat home cooked anything because they can’t be sure what the food hygiene was like.
I was a bit stunned. Am I just slow on the uptake or is that normal now?
I “get” not eating cake if you’re on a diet or just don’t like cake.

OP posts:
Shadycorner · 27/04/2019 07:28

Having said that, cat or dog hair in food is just urgh!

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 27/04/2019 07:29

Of course I would.
I do it all the time. And regularily bring cake myself.
My office has some seriously great bakers.

And even if i thought "no not from her/him/them". I would never be so rude - my late DM would kill me with a lightning bold from the other side.

CKWattisthemanager · 27/04/2019 07:30

I can see both sides of this. A friend of mine makes food for us if we go out together. Her house is filthy. Cat hairs over everything. Counter tops are never wiped so layers of grime and crumbs and all the cutlery, utensils and equipment is covered in greasy fingerprints and live in drawers and cupboards that have a staggering build up of grey sludgy hairy grime. I offer to pay for food when out now I know this about her. It cost me but I don't want salmonella again as I nearly died. My DH is immunocompromised too so I won't risk getting ill. The friend is excellent in every other respect though and I know I am more likely to get ill with restaurant food. Eating food from her kitchen would seem foolhardy though, knowing what I know.

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Cafeculture · 27/04/2019 07:31

I only eat home made cake!

I don’t eat shop cake as it’s revolting

Exactly.

NoClueAnymore · 27/04/2019 07:31

It depends on who baked it, but I would refuse politely, or say "maybe later"

ContessaIsOnADietDammit · 27/04/2019 07:31

I understand their reservation, bit would never be so crass as to actually voice it!!

BluePirates · 27/04/2019 07:31

I don’t but I just say no thanks but will always say it looks lovely.

TowerRingInferno · 27/04/2019 07:31

Of course I would.

This is another of those ‘only on MN’ things I never see happen in the real world (or my tiny bit of it).

Asta19 · 27/04/2019 07:34

I am about as far from a germaphobe as you can get. My standards are not high. But I also never eat home baked goods. I can’t even give a good reason why, but it just puts me off not knowing what someone’s kitchen is like, whether they dipped their finger in the cake mix, that kind of thing. However I wouldn’t say that to someone, I just say “no thanks” and leave it at that.

Tink1990 · 27/04/2019 07:34

For me it does depend on who has made it Blush I would never make this obvious though.

YeOldeTrout · 27/04/2019 07:35

"a couple of people declined a slice, saying they never eat home cooked anything because they can’t be sure what the food hygiene was like."

They actually said that publicly, to the baker's face?
Or said in a way they knew their proclamation would get back to the baker?
Bloody hell.
Your work must be a ball of laughs.

pelirocco123 · 27/04/2019 07:36

I wonder if they eat out ,they check the kitchens

Rubberduckies · 27/04/2019 07:37

Did they tell the baker that's why!? Bit bizarre not to make an excuse.... Dh is a primary school teacher and doesn't eat cake the children have made....but he's always very appreciative! If my patients made me a cake I'd eat unless I knew their house was particularly bad, when again I'd make an excuse!

Teddybear45 · 27/04/2019 07:38

Some people mention germs but actually might have an allergy or religious requirement they don’t want colleagues to know about. I knew a few people like that. They felt that saying they have a gluten / dairy / egg allergy or that they can’t eat eggs due to their religion made them weak. Stupid people as mentioning germs just made the person baking feel like shit.

EleanorReally · 27/04/2019 07:38

There is one person at my work who reacts like this, as far as i know, perhaps the dieters are lying? I feel sorry for her anxiety in this matter

stucknoue · 27/04/2019 07:39

How rude? Unless you have specific medical reasons eg nut allergy (my flour and nuts are in the same cupboard) why? Homemade cake is great

FiremanKing · 27/04/2019 07:46

There was a rumour that Nilsen used to bring food into work for his colleagues. Shock

pictish · 27/04/2019 07:46

Yes I would. Your colleagues are either rude or overly anxious about hygiene.

JenniferJareau · 27/04/2019 07:47

Yes, I have and will continue to do so. Have no issues with my colleagues hygiene.

Xyzzzzz · 27/04/2019 07:47

Depends on who has baked it. As a home baker myself I am wary generally of eating peoples food . The bigger issues for me is if I like the colleague or not! If I don’t I wouldn’t eat the cake anyway.

SallyWD · 27/04/2019 07:49

How bizarre! And they can be sure of hygiene standard in a factory?!

whitehalleve · 27/04/2019 07:49

I don't. But I don't say that as the reason as I think it's rude (even though that is the reason I don't want it)

Billben · 27/04/2019 07:53

That’s incredibly rude. They could have come up with a number of excuses that wouldn’t have been half as insulting as being concerned about food hygiene.

Reastie · 27/04/2019 07:54

I would decline as I don’t eat cake but I do have ishoos about germs and struggle to eat food other people have prepared but I wouldn’t admit this, I’d think of a polite excuse to decline if it was something I could eat.

Boysey45 · 27/04/2019 07:55

Depends on who baked it. I used to think all women had high food hygiene standards. I was staggered when working at a place, that people didn't wash their hands when preparing food, or wash vegetables with soil on and used dirty plates etc.
I've had food poisoning from a buffet, so I'm careful now.
Men don't wash their hands when going to the toilet so I wouldn't eat anything one had prepared.