# Can we get a list of foods that should not be "brown-bagged" for lunch at work? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 24, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474 "2005-08-24T19:35:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/1 "2005-08-24T19:35:29Z")
Right now, the top of this list for me is: SAUERKRAUT Somebody in my immediate area is eating sauerkraut for lunch and it’s making my eyes sting. Really fragrant and pungent things just shouldn’t be eaten at your desk. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/2 "2005-08-24T19:38:22Z")
Limburger cheese? Pickled herring? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/3 "2005-08-24T19:43:48Z")
I big salmon steak. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/4 "2005-08-24T19:50:42Z")
Surstromming. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/5 "2005-08-24T19:57:00Z")
Is it really necessary to bring tuna fish to work? At least the low carb craze is over. No more people eating a hot dog without the bun like a little kid! ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/6 "2005-08-24T20:05:45Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Surstromming. urp…, sounds about as bad as lutefisk. Salmon’s fine, as is tuna, as long as it’s not been sitting out for too long. But sauerkraut just penetrates. Something else that’s pretty nasty is burnt microwave popcorn. Even the unburnt version is pretty pungent. Happily, nobody on this floor seems to like micro popcorn - I have seen offices where the stuff is forbidden, just because of the smell creating an “unprofessional” environment. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/7 "2005-08-24T20:08:29Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Something else that’s pretty nasty is burnt microwave popcorn. Even the unburnt version is pretty pungent. Happily, nobody on this floor seems to like micro popcorn - I have seen offices where the stuff is forbidden, just because of the smell creating an “unprofessional” environment. My old office had the same ban. I think it was a good idea. If it burns, you can smell it everywhere. Even if not, the office isn’t a movie theatre. ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/8 "2005-08-24T20:09:15Z")
Any kind of fish. Eggs, particularly those breakfast burritos (particularly if I’m hung over). Really, really garlicy pasta (but only because it makes me want some.) And ditto on the microwave popcorn, although it’s pretty funny: someone will make some, and then you’ll see people wandering the halls trying to find who made it so they can snitch some. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/9 "2005-08-24T20:39:27Z")
Microwave tuna casserole. Ew. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/10 "2005-08-24T20:43:15Z")
> [@Campion](#): > > Any kind of fish. Eggs, particularly… How about fish eggs? ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/11 "2005-08-24T20:49:05Z")
Curry, if they didn’t bring enough for everyone. Damn, I’m hungry… > [@](#): > > How about fish eggs? Good quality caviar is served cool and doesn’t really have much of a fishy odor. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/12 "2005-08-24T20:50:56Z")
Anything Belker ever brought for lunch on **Hill Street Blues**!I work in a hospital with a large number of Filipinos. I could give you a list a mile long, but I can’t spell any of it. 😛 Also, just about any fish is particularly nasty as leftovers. The microwave seems to intensify the fishiness. ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/13 "2005-08-24T20:51:48Z")
Durian ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/14 "2005-08-24T20:55:39Z")
Potato salad. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/15 "2005-08-24T21:16:36Z")
> [@caveman](#): > > Durian A former co-worker’s former office (if that makes any sense) was evacuated when someone cut open a durian in the lunchroom. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/16 "2005-08-24T21:26:29Z")
Holy crap, I had never heard of durians before. > [@](#): > > Due to the fruit’s strong odour, it is forbidden to bring durians as hand luggage onto aircraft belonging to some airlines, to carry them on the Singapore public transit system, or to store or eat them in many hotels. Apparently eating one of those is like “eating custard in a public lavatory.” I am getting some very nasty office prank ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/17 "2005-08-24T21:36:33Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Something else that’s pretty nasty is burnt microwave popcorn. Even the unburnt version is pretty pungent. Happily, nobody on this floor seems to like micro popcorn - I have seen offices where the stuff is forbidden, just because of the smell creating an “unprofessional” environment. A guy who used to be the maintenence man here had a deceased brother that had owned a bar. There was a big, movie theatre-style popcorn machine in the bar. Our guy brings it over here and people would have regular bags of popcorn, in the shop, in the office, everywhere. Then the people who bought the bar noticed that they were short a big popcorn machine, tracked it down, and re-po’d it. Nobody here does the microwave popcorn anymore, either. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/18 "2005-08-24T21:38:07Z")
Sardines. It didn’t help that I worked at a sardine factory. (Buying tip for those who love sardines: Never buy sardines with fancy ass names like “Millionaires” or “Select Small” - these are the bottom of the barrel fish, really disgusting stuff that you do not want to know where they come from - marketed under a hoity-toity name so people think they’re getting something special. Oh, they’re “special”, all right. _shudder_) ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/19 "2005-08-24T22:27:44Z")
I’ve always wanted to try durian. I hear that even though it smells like rotting flesh, it tastes delicious, sort of like a creamy caramelly custard with hints of vanilla and… garlic. There is a place in town called Lollicup that specializes in boba tea and fruit juices and slushes, and next time I go, I’m ordering the durian smoothie, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474/20 "2005-08-24T22:59:46Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Something else that’s pretty nasty is burnt microwave popcorn. Even the unburnt version is pretty pungent. Happily, nobody on this floor seems to like micro popcorn - I have seen offices where the stuff is forbidden, just because of the smell creating an “unprofessional” environment. Some places ban popcorn because if it burns it sets off the smoke detectors and forces a building evacuation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-get-a-list-of-foods-that-should-not-be-brown-bagged-for-lunch-at-work/318474.md?page=2)