'Additions' to food

[doirecormac]

In my work we have a shared fridge for foodstuffs (butter, milk, sandwiches etc) - from time to time stuff goes missing from the fridge.

Hypothetically, if I added something to my food (eg laxatives) and someone then took it and ate it would they have any comeback?

My thoughts are that any ingredient in the sandwich eg ham, chicken, laxatives are there because I like it that way and if someone else ate it and had an adverse reaction then it's just tough.

Any thoughts much appreciated on the legalities of this.

[redhead23]

put rat posion in your food , they will soon get the message not to eat your food
as its not theirs they should not eat it anyhow and should check their ingredients

[~Wingnut~]

Definatly don't put rat poison in it! lol Red what yer like! lol

You could spread very HOT chilli sauce or horseradish sauce (this is more believable to like in a sandwich than laxatives!) in amongst your food and wait to see who drinks bucket loads of water for the rest of the day! You like your sandwichs hot you see! Other's may not know that but then they shouldn't be eating your food! ;o)

I don't know if what I have put is illegal if there are repercussions (someone gets sick from chilli sauce) but hopefully someone will be along to advise you better :o)

[Ethel]

I don't see how there could be any repercussions - the sandwiches are for your own consumption, are clearly identifiable as yours (I hope) and it is nobody else's business what you eat.

As long as the sandwich does not contain anything that one would expect to be banned from a fridge containing food, it should be fine.

[Whickerman]

Think of it this way - if someone nicks a snickers bar, then finds out they're allergic to nuts and winds up in hospital, how far do you think any lawsuit against the shop would get? Same principle.

The idea of chilli or horseradish is great btw.

[redhead23]

or like i said before rat poision

[Gmcd01]

The problem here is that you know it will harm somebody (even if it is morally justifiable, but let's work on the legal angle.) Therefore, you have a class of persons who are likely to be harmed by your actions, and as you are aware of their actions, you would be liable for any consequential harm. It is akin to occupier liability; the way I was taught was that if you believe you're going to get burgled, you can lock your house, but not set a booby trap. Another example is keeping guard dogs, but you would be going too far by underfeeding them so they become more aggressive. There was a case a few years back of a man who electrified his car to catch thieves. However, the courts held that an innocent person could have brushed past it and therefore that was an offence.
Of course, the above superlative suggestion of spicy sauce is completely legal and as owner, you are within your rights to do this (Assuming you like spicy food!) I would suggest Tobasco Sauce- thin, dissolves easily and is very very spicy...

[~Wingnut~]

As I thought, but was just covering myself lol ;o)

[JimT]

This food-stealing problem used to happen regularly at a previous workplace of mine and I never found out who it was; I was tempted to lace the food with laxatives or something, or smear it with urine (or worse) but never did. I wondered about the legal position and came to the same conclusion as Gmcd01 - you would be making a conscious attempt to harm someone and would therefore be liable to any ensuing action.

But yes I also agree with the "spicy poison" approach. But Tabaso or hosreradish be damned - too tame. The hottest dried chilli you can find, hidden in the middle so they can't avoid biting into it, would be way harsher and more effective.

With perhaps some tabasco and pure horseradish for good measure. (Or a dollop of wasabe!)

[Gmcd01]

Hey, let's turn this into a food debate :-) I ameliorate my suggestion to the seed membrane of a dried Scots Bonnet chilli! lol wow I haven't said 'lol' in many a year...

[thugulike]

I know someone who repeatedly had his shampoo used (in a school staff facility) and he put peroxide in a bottle. Strange, it never happened again. You do have to be careful though and I wouldn't recommend THAT action to anyone. If it can be shown that you have deliberately sought to injure someone then there could be problems. I remember dealing with a staffing problem involving a cake laced with laxative. Difference there was that the cake had been given to a specific person. I recommended the police be informed. Could you have a locked box in the fridge?

[doirecormac]

thanks for all the replies - certainly 'food' for thought...... sorry, couldn't resist it !