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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Pilchards in Public

71 replies

YellowTulips · 25/03/2015 17:02

I work in an open plan office with desks in banks of 6's and 8's.

A member of the team sitting near me has embarked on a new diet that seems to consist of ryvita crip breads and sliced tomatoes plus a tin on pilchards.

At lunchtime said tin is opened and the stench permeates the who office.

Nearly 5 hours later I can still
smell it .

Is it ever acceptable to eat really smelly food in an open office?

AIBU to speak to said person and ask her to keep her pilchards private

OP posts:

Original poster

YellowTulips · 25/03/2015 17:04

And what other foods should be banned from the workplace - cos I have a feeling I might have to provide a list as am somewhat worried what might replace the fishy option

OP posts:

DontdrinkandFacebook · 25/03/2015 17:05

I think this is unacceptable. It's tricky, I mean people have been eating egg sandwiches for years and they stink too but I don't think it's really on to be opening tins of smelly fish at your desk. Isn't there a staff lunch room she can go to?

DontdrinkandFacebook · 25/03/2015 17:05

any fried fast food, McDonalds etc, all stinks.

Original poster

YellowTulips · 25/03/2015 17:06

It's actually a he - no staff canteen. We have to eat at desks or go out.

OP posts:

ChopperGordino · 25/03/2015 17:08

I was at a university a few weeks ago where they had signs up in a lecture theatre asking students not to eat tinned fish on the premises. It reminded me of those threads about rules you never thought you'd have to make before having children

Feminine · 25/03/2015 17:10

I feel sorry for your Co-worker.
It sounds like she is trying really hard to make a healthy lunch.
Fear not, l can't see this lasting.
That stinky fish is going to start getting up her nose shortly.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 25/03/2015 17:10

I think you would not be unreasonable to ask your colleague to take her pilchards elsewhere.

Many years ago, I shared an office with a lovely lady. My favourite perfume at the time was Poison. She one day asked me very nicely if I could not wear it to work any more, as it made her feel sick! Of course, I never did wear it again. I had no idea of the effect it was having on her and was most apologetic. Had she never mentioned it, I'd never have known!!

Probably your colleague has no idea of the effect a pilchard stench is having on you - you should definitely mention it.

WorraLiberty · 25/03/2015 17:12

Curry, fish or anything garlic heavy would stink an office out.

SoonToBeMrsB · 25/03/2015 17:14

I heated up some fish in the office microwave today but I warned my colleagues that I had it, I opened a window and I wiped down the microwave with antibac spray when I was finished. Nobody that I asked said that they could smell fish.

There are polite ways of eating these things in a communal space.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 25/03/2015 17:15

Eggs can be ponky too

Original poster

YellowTulips · 25/03/2015 17:17

He is on a diet and obviously trying to be healthy (I'm not sure I could go as far as tinned fish to achieve that) so fair play on that front.

He is aware of the smell - others have pointed it out to the point he now announces "pilchards ahoy" as he starts his lunch.

I think he feels we should just put up with it.

I was hoping it would last for a few days but the fish frenzy is not abating .

I'm going to have to put my foot down - I really don't think I can take any more. You know when you get that sicky feeling in the back of your mouth

OP posts:

Summerisle1 · 25/03/2015 17:18

Pilchards are the instrument of Satan. At no point should anyone eat a pilchard anywhere outside a lead-lined room constructed inside their own home.

You've got to say something before you are all poisoned by Passive Pilcharding.

suitsyousir · 25/03/2015 17:20

YABU but I am still in the doghouse after eating fish at home on monday

I absolutely detest the smell of coffee, it makes me heave if its too strong, but ive never been able to get it baned from any office I've worked in. YABU, sorry

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 25/03/2015 17:21

Could you mock up a little playful 'petition' and get all affected co-workers to sign it? Present it to him, laughingly (but firmly) and say "We've really had enough of this. Your pilchards stink. Next time, you eat them, we will all vomit on your desk"

Or something similarly worded????

Momagain1 · 25/03/2015 17:23

The thing is, if management decrees a pilchard ban, he will come back with a strop over egg salad, then that person will insist on a curry ban.

There must be another lunch option on his diet list? They are good for you, but 5 servings a week is a bit extreme.

ChopperGordino · 25/03/2015 17:25

I would avoid that Evan, too close to bullying

EeekEeekEeekEeek · 25/03/2015 17:26

Pilchards are lush, but YANBU. It's more than a bit inconsiderate.

Perhaps you could buy a giant can of Lynx and liberally spray the room with it when he shouts 'Pilchards ahoy!'? After a while he'd begin to associate pilchards with the acrid stench of 'Afrika', which should put him right off.

DontdrinkandFacebook · 25/03/2015 17:26

It's impossible to legislate against every potential smelly food and one man's meat is another man's poison, as it were. It would be better to just have a no eating at your desk rule if people can't be trusted to apply common sense.

Original poster

YellowTulips · 25/03/2015 17:27

He got a BOGOF offer on them apparently so I assume he could well have bought enough tins to see him through to the apocalypse

I did think at stopping at the diy shop and buying a load of those paper mouth and nose masks. I could hand them out at 11.45 ready for everyone to put on at the sound of "pilchards ahoy"

OP posts:

hippymama1 · 25/03/2015 17:28

summerisle1 LOL

KurriKurri · 25/03/2015 17:30

'pilchards ahoy' actually made me really laugh for some reason.

I do think smelly food is a bit anti social - but it's hard to know where you draw the line, I hate the smell of prawn sandwiches and a lot of people eat those and I hate the smell of anything meaty, and any fast foods (I'm a veggie) but I sort of feel I have to put up with that as it is normal for others. Not sure you can ban people from eating particular foods - can he do it by an open window so the smell dissipates quicker?

ilovesooty · 25/03/2015 17:38

Pilchards were served every day in the school canteen in my first teaching job.

EeekEeekEeekEeek · 25/03/2015 17:48

'pilchards ahoy' actually made me really laugh for some reason

me too

GreenPetal94 · 25/03/2015 17:55

If you can't beat them join them. Tuna or sardines make an easy lunch as no need to refridgerate. Or if you are feeling flush bring in some smoked salmon and leave the wrapper in the office bin.

Whippet81 · 25/03/2015 17:59

We have an open kitchen at work and we have a kind of 'no smelly food' rule.

Yes it's a bit ambiguous but it's kind of common sense - if you warm up tomato soup you can smell it for a few minutes can't you and then it's gone - fish and eggs seem to be the main lingering culprits.

We did this as we had someone cooking fish in the microwave and it was horrendous - we have no windows that can be opened anyway and people complained.

I think you need some rules in place - I wouldn't like if either.

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