Christmas dinner may be seen as sacred, but new research has revealed the foodie festive faux pas that Brits find the most annoying. More than half of people say coughing or sneezing over food is the biggest offence at 55 per cent, while almost as many – 54 per cent – can’t stand guests leaning across others to grab food, according to the study of 2,000 people.
The research by Asda, even found that 36 per cent of people actually preferred the nibbles to the traditional Christmas turkey dinner itself.
Using the same spoon for different chutneys irritates 35 per cent, and piling your plate sky-high is judged badly by just over a third at 34 per cent. Nearly half get irritated by people leaning across the table just to dip at 49 per cent, and an identical 48 per cent dislike anyone putting olive pits back in the bowl.
Taking the last item without offering it around first angers almost a quarter at 24 per cent, and cutting pâté or cheese with a used knife annoys 23 per cent. Some 27 per cent said no festive food table is complete without a baked camembert and 47 per cent said mini sausage rolls were a must have.
Another 48 per cent say dripping melted fondue cheese all over the table is unforgivable, while letting pets jump up at the table annoys just under half at 44 per cent. To tackle the nation’s dipping disasters, Asda has created a two-metre-long “Fonduuuuuue Fork” – designed to let everyone dip, swirl and share without the awkward leaning, lunging or sleeve mishaps.
”The festive spread is where Christmas memories are made – and where etiquette sometimes melts away,” an Asda spokesperson said. “With eight in ten Brits saying there’s a right and wrong way to behave at the buffet, we thought it was time to give the nation a helping hand – or in this case, a longer fork.”
