I wonder - are germophobes born that way, or is it learned anxiety?

Depends. If I’ve been to their house and it is dirty and has cats everywhere, hell no. If their houses are clean and they control their pets or don’t have pets, yes.

I once went to a neighbor’s house for a “party,” and her house was filthy. FILTHY. The invite came several weeks out, so it wasn’t impromptu. She knew people were coming over. The powder room literally had feces on the toilet seat, and no hand towels. I ate and drank NOTHING, didn’t sit on the cat-hair couches, and left as soon as I could. I will never go back.

I have no problems eating food prepared by the neighbors (hello?! If you eat out anywhere you have no business being afraid of your neighbor's cooking). But I am a very good cook, and a better cook/baker than most people, and there's only so many calories I want to eat.

I'm fine with potlucks and dinner parties but someone randomly bringing over muffins would not be quite as appreciated. I'd be nice and pleasant and nibble at it but I do carefully organize and plan my weekly menus and I take advantage of seasonal offerings so this fall is all about apple desserts (pies, tarts, cakes) and I don't really need something else on top of it.

Just being honest. You'd never know from my gratitude to you.

Anonymous wrote:How did humanity survive so many decades without neuroticism, germaphobia, and disinfecting wipes?

I agree. Covid has shown how much anxiety is in this area. Once you leave and go elsewhere, it's like people actually enjoy their lives.

Yes.

Meanwhile, the chili we ate from Trader Joe’s was recalled due to glass being inside it.

So many strange people here.

Why would you not eat something someone cooked for you? Even if you are a germaphobe, presumably whatever it is they cooked was done at such a high temperature that it killed whatever germs you fear?

I wonder if this is the same group who post about wondering if they can eat something 1 day past the sell by date, or the meat left defrosting in the refrigerator for 3 days or whatever in their unheated garage overnight in winter.

I have no problems with office potlucks, neighbor's holiday treats, etc. I am in my late 50s and have never been made sick from any of them.

When, and more importantly why, did you become afraid of food?

How did humanity survive so many decades without neuroticism, germaphobia, and disinfecting wipes?

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't. The Department of Health is not doing surprise inspections at their kitchens.

Geez, people have become so weird about food.

No, toss!!

Nope! Never will.

No, most people have no idea what good food is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally I'm not opposed to eating it, because who's going to just randomly offer me food? So it seems okay. Colleagues offering cookies at the holidays? Maybe. Potlucks where everyone touch the utensils and then you have to eat with your hands ? Mayonnaise-coated salads that sit in the hot sun on July 4? Ugh. That's where I get weird about other people's food.

I'm pretty sure that office potlucks and cookie swaps are a thing of the past now with covid.

Healthcare worker here...hospital staff all over the US are still having potlucks in the break rooms. Yep. You heard it here. Our best frontline workers.

Hospital pot lucks are the BEST! Where else am I going to get Thai, Liberian, Philipino, Nigerian, Dutch, Indian, etc. food all in the same meal?? Mmm, now I'm craving pancit.

Lol at my first job the entire bookkeeping/accounting department was Filipino. We had a potluck and there was five trays of lumpia. I sampled them all.

Potlucks in accounting offices are not comparable to potlucks in hospital break room. Those are gross in the best of times, lest a pandemic. Food sitting out all day since everyone can’t take their break around the same time, lots of hands in food that were just touching patients and their dirty phones and computers, door opening and closing continuously exposing food to whatever droplets are floating around hospital ward.

Usually not. It depends what it is though. Cakes, cookies, quick sweet breads get tossed.

I do like some homemade candy neighbors have given at holidays though. One makes an amazing peanut brittle, homemade caramels wrapped up, and big square homemade marshmallows have been well received and enjoyed by us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally I'm not opposed to eating it, because who's going to just randomly offer me food? So it seems okay. Colleagues offering cookies at the holidays? Maybe. Potlucks where everyone touch the utensils and then you have to eat with your hands ? Mayonnaise-coated salads that sit in the hot sun on July 4? Ugh. That's where I get weird about other people's food.

I'm pretty sure that office potlucks and cookie swaps are a thing of the past now with covid.

Healthcare worker here...hospital staff all over the US are still having potlucks in the break rooms. Yep. You heard it here. Our best frontline workers.

Hospital pot lucks are the BEST! Where else am I going to get Thai, Liberian, Philipino, Nigerian, Dutch, Indian, etc. food all in the same meal?? Mmm, now I'm craving pancit.

Lol at my first job the entire bookkeeping/accounting department was Filipino. We had a potluck and there was five trays of lumpia. I sampled them all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:7:45. Also, if I can smell the inside of your house on you and/or when you open your door, hard pass on food from you.

Even if the small is apple pie? Or cinnamon rolls? What about sautéed onions and peppers?
My husband is a wonderful cook and our house always smells of whatever he is cooking.
No cats.
Kitchen counters bleached every night.

Bleaching the counters every night seems like massive overkill.