The first rule of eating lunch at the office? Don’t bring anything too smelly.
But what counts as “too smelly” really depends on who you ask.
One Redditor regularly brought homemade meals to work—simple things like stir fry or pasta. Nothing outrageous by their standards. But a coworker had a different take, complaining that the food smelled “too real” and “too textured,” without offering much clarification.
Next thing they knew, a passive-aggressive air freshener war had quietly begun. Read the full story below and decide whose side you’re on.
The worker received a complaint from their colleague that their office lunch smelled “too real”
Image credits: goffkein (not the actual photo)
Leaving them confused as to what that was even supposed to mean
Image credits: [deleted]
Rules of office lunch etiquette
Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)
There are few things more unpleasant in an office kitchen than an overpowering smell, except maybe realizing you’re the one causing it.
While most people agree that certain foods like fish or hard-boiled eggs are best avoided at work, things get murkier when it comes to meals that seem totally normal to some, like the lunch in the story above.
It’s often hard to tell whether a meal is genuinely disruptive or if it’s just one coworker with an overly sensitive nose. And while that’s something only the people involved can really figure out, there are still a few general office lunch etiquette rules—mostly unspoken—that are good to keep in mind.
Emily Heil, a reporter covering national food news and trends, shared an excellent guide on the topic in The Washington Post. Here are some key highlights:
Follow the rules
Ideally, workplace kitchen policies are shared during onboarding, but sometimes, these details get skipped or forgotten.
Heil recommends checking whether there are any existing rules: When is the fridge cleaned out? Is there a policy on how long you can store items? Some workplaces have stricter guidelines than others, and younger workers coming from more casual environments may be unaware of certain expectations. So it’s always worth asking.
Keep smells and sounds to a minimum
Keeping strong smells to a minimum is a basic rule most people know.
But there’s another factor many people overlook: sound. If you’re planning to eat lunch at your desk near others, it might be better to find a different spot.
Of course, cultural differences play a role.
“One person’s comfort food might be another’s ‘too strong’ lunch,” says etiquette coach Myka Meier. “Instead of pointing fingers at what’s ‘appropriate,’ the best practice is to aim for neutrality in shared spaces, which means maybe saving especially fragrant meals, like fish or heavily spiced dishes, for home or a separate dining area if one’s available.”
Do your part to keep the kitchen tidy
The office kitchen is often a hotspot for frustration. From mystery spills to missing food, it can bring out the worst in coworkers.
Labeling your items is a simple but smart move. “Sadly, it is necessary, because there are people who think that, ‘Oh, if it doesn’t have a name on it, it means it’s perfectly fine,’” Nick Leighton, co-host of the podcast Were You Raised By Wolves?, told The Washington Post.
Don’t overcrowd the fridge—there’s no need to store an entire week’s worth of lunches—and always respect reminders to clean up after yourself.
Don’t eat in meetings unless everyone is
Unless a meeting is clearly labeled a working lunch or brown-bag session, experts say it’s best to avoid eating during it, even over Zoom.
Water bottles are generally acceptable, but it’s best to avoid bringing something like a massive neon Stanley cup into more formal meetings, especially when clients or upper management are present.
If you’re the host, you’re responsible
Whether it’s birthday cake, catered lunch, or team snacks, someone’s got to take the lead, and that person is the host.
“The host is responsible for the guest list, for the refreshments, and then also making sure that things are restored back how they were found,” Leighton says.
Hosting also means being considerate of dietary restrictions and labeling food when necessary.
When you can, go out with coworkers
Office food doesn’t always have to be a source of stress or passive-aggressive tension.
At its core, food brings people together. In a workplace setting, that can mean building relationships or expanding your network.
You might say, “Hey, boss, I would love to spend some time with you and learn a little more about your journey and what advice you might have as I’m continuing to navigate my career.”
Or to a colleague: “I would love to spend some time with you and hear a little bit more about how things are going with you, and just get to know you a little bit better so I can learn how I can better support you.”
After reading Heil’s piece, it becomes clear that good lunch etiquette really comes down to two simple things: be mindful of others’ comfort, and when there’s friction, communicate politely. That goes a long way in keeping the office lunch hour peaceful and scent-neutral.
Some readers felt the worker wasn’t in the wrong and speculated about what might be bothering the colleague
Others shared similar stories from their own offices
Still, a few pointed out that the food might genuinely be more pungent than they realized
