Bringing baked goods into work

[Bibblybumblebee]

I really enjoy baking - I’m quite good - only thing I’m really any good at!
I like baking traditional cakes like Victoria sponge, lemon drizzle, carrot.

I normally bake on the weekend and sometimes bake a tray bake cake and take it to work.
I work in a team of about 10 people. So there’s plenty for everyone to help themselves- it’s normally demolished by Wednesday.

2 woman I work with are always on a diet or talking about fitness - both in there late 50s.
One of them asked to have a word with me today and said her and this other woman both agree it’s not appropriate to bring in homemade cakes to work because it’s unhealthy and not fair when people are trying to be ‘good’.
She also said that if I could be reported to HR as I haven’t had a hygiene rating certificate at home. She said she’s worried if someone got sick from my homemade food I could get in trouble.

AIBU to feel a bit upset about this. My home is spotless my kitchen is clean.

I think these woman have just got food issues but I am worried they could report me.

I don’t bake cakes every week. Maybe once every 6 weeks.

Whats your opinion on people being in baked goods from home into work?

It's been a while since we had this thread. There was a time it was a weekly occurrence 😂 🍰

You're no more responsible for what others choose to eat, than they are for you.

Ignore them obviously.

They sound awful OP, take no notice.

I've never worked anywhere where home baking wasn't welcomed. If it continues to make you happy, crack on. Pair of misery guts.

I'm not a cake eater and very rarely even work in an office these days, but I think it's lovely when people share food, especially when it's home-made.

Fuck 'em, OP. They can grow their own willpower.

I would ignore them and start bringing them in more regularly, but then I can be a bit like that. I'd love to see them report you to HR 🤣 they would get laughed out the door.

God, they'd be lynched in our place if they said such a ridiculous thing!!! You carry on, you're doing a lovely thing and if they can't control themselves then that's their problem!
As an aside, we have a couple of bakers amongst our staff and their Lemon Love/ Chocolate brownies are the best ever!!
It's Ramadan and one of our pupils has brought the most incredible food in every day for the staffroom....we are very grateful!

Lady I worked with would always bring in sausage rolls. She was my hero. More savoury bakes please, if anyone is listening

Ask them what f they remember the old comedy sketches when people used to get a custard pie in the face, tell them you’re thinking of baking some….

I think you need to move to my workplace. That is all.

Gosh, there are some truly joyless people around.

There was one at my last place of work. He wouldn't eat anything that he hadn't cooked himself. He wouldn't even eat his mum's cooking. Weird since she had clearly got him to adulthood without mishap.

He used to get terribly grumpy about people taking cakes in to work. Would have a hissy fit if he saw any crumbs on a desk. Until someone told him bluntly that he didn't have to eat it, others were enjoying it, and would he please mind his own business.

I would tell them that is a"you" issue and to cop the bleep on. Of they don't partake they won't have to worry about you poisoning them.

I often bring in some of the avalanche of goodies that arrive here.

YABVU - because now I feel like I need to go and bake something! I have a sudden urge for buttercream icing. A nice sponge with lots of buttercream...

You know you don’t have to eat what ‘feeders’ bring in.

I'm on chemo at the moment. The Unit staff occasionally have a 'bring home-baked cake to work' day to raise money. Brownies, carrot cake, sponge, lemon drizzle, apple spice cake and so on! No wittering on about Food Hygiene certs or unhealthy temptation; just dig in and enjoy.

I have lovely memories of working with two women who liked to bake for the rest of us. To go and have your miserable instant coffee at break time and then find a wonderful homemade cake to eat with it really used to make my day. It is probably 20 years ago now but I remember once having hazelnut pavlova with apricot sauce...incredible...

Keep up the good work, op!

Please put a note on your next one.
"This is a Victoria Sponge.
Not a Fun Sponge."

Miserable bitches.

‘feeders’ oh piss off

YANBU , just because you take cake I'm doesn't mean that are obliged to eat it.
I love cake but occassionally people have brought (shop bought) doughnuts or cakes that I not keen on - so rude!!🤣🤣 - so I don't eat them.

They are probably MN food police tbh though. I never knew so many people could be aghast at home made cakes until I joined MN. Any school fair I've been to, the cake stall is the first to sell out and nobody at my workplace has ever turned down home made cake ....but then joined MN and found people have all manner of qualms about it (mostly hygeine related rather than health related)

In my last office the baker was ironically also the one who was watching what she ate. In fact that’s why she would bring in the baked goods. We were her Guinea pig and disposal unit.

She loved to bake but didn’t want the temptation at home so it was a win-win situation

OP, carry on and don’t let them change what you do.

Their lack of self restraint is not your problem.

You aren't force feeding or inflicting cake on anyone.

If HR even attempted to raise something like this I would have a field day. In exchange for no longer making cake, I would request any entire bin on people who talk about fitting in the workplace - no more discussions of food, being, weighing scales, inches lost etc

If there's a bring your whole self to work policy, it's part of your whole self so cannot be restricted.

If you identify as a Baker, how will people know without the cake?

You could also just bring 2 plates every week. Put the cake on one - label it, real cake, lots of calories. Leave the second plate empty but label it invisible cake - no calorie option.

@paintingvenice yes I think that went on with the plums for a time! I seemed to be making lots of plum cake for a few weeks :) I am now wondering if I left any bananas tonight that I should have taken home!

One of the saddest pieces of homework I had to do with DS was assist him with making a "healthy" cake. Wtf. Just have normal (nice) cake and have a smaller piece!!!
It looked miserable, I can't remember what it tasted like but it was a traumatic experience!

I'm guessing it may be jealousy motivating them really, either of your body shape/confidence or your ease around food and ability to enjoy it.
Which is sad but it isn't a reason for you to change your kindness and generous spirit.
With things like this it's easy to sit alone in the dark and feel sad and upset. It's always best to bring it out into the light as soon as possible. I would relay what has been said to you to the rest of the group, and ask for feedback. They might be confused what is the right thing to do so as not to upset anyway. But I'm sure you will hear lots of feedback about how much people love your treats. Most of us wish we had you in our workplace!

Kind people who do lovely things for others are often the target for mean comments. So remember this only says something about those women (possibly just the woman who spoke to you. It's easy to put words in other people's mouths). Everyone here can see it for the generous gesture it is!

I wish I worked in your office!

Just ignore the mean old bats, let their virtuosity get in the way if their weight loss. The office isn't a branch of bloody Weight watchers.

We are not allowed to bring any home baked products in because management have no idea what conditions they were baked in. We can only bring in closed packets from shops.

Is there no waiver you could sign to say you're eating at your own risk?