(Throwaway account)
I (31M) work in a small office with about 20 employees. It’s not uncommon for people to bring in homemade snacks to share with everyone. One of my coworkers ("Tina" 24F) claims she is allergic to white eggs, but that brown eggs are fine, and always asks people who bring in food what kind of eggs they used. When she first mentioned her allergy to me, I pointed out that there’s no nutritional difference between white and brown eggs, and that her "allergy" was likely just a coincidental bad experience with white-shelled eggs. She not only *insisted* that she is *deathly* allergic to white eggs, but another coworker of ours ("Sara" 23F) overheard this and rounded on me, saying that just because there’s no "nutritional difference" doesn’t mean that there’s no difference, or that she’s not allergic. I didn’t want to argue, so I just dropped it and said "I’ll keep it in mind." Ever since then, I have remained silent any time she tells someone new about her allergy.
Now, this is where I might be the asshole. I don’t bother to buy brown eggs specifically. If I have them, I’ll use them, but I just use whatever eggs I have at the time, which are usually white (I buy them in bulk from Costco, so it’s not really worth it to buy additional brown eggs when I’d only need 1-2). If Tina asks, I tell her I used brown eggs. I know I could just tell the truth and say they’re white eggs, but I don’t want her to feel like I’m purposefully excluding her, and she’s not really allergic. This has gone on for months, and through several batches of cookies, and not once has Tina had an allergic reaction.
Recently, "Anna" 29F was hired and sits next to me in our corner of the office. She overheard Tina mention her allergy to someone again, and turned to me and asked "What’s that about?" I told her Tina claims she’s allergic to white eggs, but not brown, so she always double-checks with homemade snacks. Anna looked surprised and asked what the difference between them was. I told her "literally just the color of the shell, nothing else," and that she doesn’t really have an allergy. She asked why Tina thinks she’s allergic if she’s not, and I said I don’t know what her experience was that made her think she was allergic, but that I’ve never bothered to use brown eggs and she’s never once gotten sick. As I said this, Sara happened to be walking by and immediately called me an asshole and said that Tina "could have DIED!" I pointed out to her that if she were allergic to white eggs, she’d be allergic to brown too, and that there’s a reason why allergen info on products just says "eggs" and not "white" or "brown" eggs. Sara wouldn’t hear it and swiftly told Tina, and now they both hate me, and say that I was trying to kill Tina.
I know it’s not worth explaining myself to them, but I didn’t use white eggs out of malice or to prove a point. I just didn’t feel like paying twice as much to get brown eggs when I know she’s not allergic. So, AITA?
Lol, mild YTA. I’m totally with you, but you didn’t need to say anything or lie about it. Why couldn’t you have just said you used white eggs and let her think whatever she wants and not eat your snacks?
We have enough people that think their opinions are as relevant as the facts, we don’t need to be encouraging this in any way..
NTA – Wait till she finds out chicken eggs can be blue and green too. You look in the chickens’ ears to see the color of their eggs. White lobes = white eggs. Red lobes = Brown eggs. Other colors show up at blue and greens.
Just tell her you make everything with green eggs.
ESH
Tina is full of shit, and her made-up allergy makes life difficult for people with true allergies. Sara is enabling her. But you don’t lie to people about what’s in their food. Even if it’s just what color eggs you used, you should have told her the truth from the beginning instead of lying to her to prove a point. Just let her miss out on your cookies- more for everyone else who isn’t winning the Dunning-Kruger Olympics.
Yeah I have to admit as someone with an allergy (although mine is medication) OPs actions piss me off but Tina claiming an allergy when its not pisses me off just as much because they make it so people with real allergies have to justify and explain their allergies in order to be believed.
What are they mad about? You’ve cured Tina of her deadly allergy, they should be celebrating.
Tina is either stupid or attention seeking, either way she needs to get over herself
NTA for not using brown eggs, YTA for opening your mouth about it.
NTA. She’s the reason people with genuine allergies don’t get believed.
YTA but I would literally do the same thing because she is a total idiot (I am also an AH)
I’m sorry that you work with complete morons.
ESH.
Tina for obvious reasons. You for lying about what’s in the food. Even if we all know Tina’s “allergy” is a load of crap, people have a right to know what’s in their food, and to choose what they put in their bodies. Period. You don’t ever gamble with someone else’s health or compromise their bodily autonomy.
You should have just told the truth, and let Tina make her own decisions for her body. Then it’s completely on her, and she can double down and miss out, or get over herself and enjoy the cookies.
If she throws a fit that you’re leaving her out? Simply explain that you buy eggs in bulk at Costco as that’s what your budget allows, and remind her that bringing treats is optional and a kindness. You aren’t obligated to bring them and you aren’t obligated to go out of your way or spend extra money to accommodate anyone’s (real or imagined) dietary restrictions. She is welcome to bring her own.
ESH. Tina is clearly delusional or making things up and Sara shouldn’t be encouraging it, but lying about what is in someone’s food is morally wrong. You should be honest. Just say that what you make will have whatever eggs in it that you have on hand and that it is up to her if she wants to eat it and chance it may contain white eggs.
Yta but everyone sucks too.
Sara needs to mind her own.
Tina needs to chill tf. And maybe see a Dr.
But you, sir, need to check your own attitude. I don’t give a rat’s ass if Tina claimed she was allergic to eggs that weigh less than 4oz. You do not tell someone else what they are or are not allergic to. You accommodate, or you warn.
If you don’t want to waste $ on brown eggs, don’t! But say that. “Hey, sorry. But I buy eggs in bulk and they’re usually white.”
Don’t lie and throw your own credibility into question. If I worked with you, I’d always wonder if you decided my allergy wasn’t real enough for you, and lied about including it. Even if I agree Tina is weird, I can’t trust you anymore.
And even if it’s silly, knowingly lying about a claimed allergen can get you in trouble too. If Tina decides to press this, she can.