Flatmate grievances are a common theme among roommates but one woman’s frustration over food theft escalated into a shocking showdown that left her flatmate in hospital.
In a story that has ignited social media debate, a 25-year-old shared her ordeal on the Reddit forum “Am I The A*****e” (AITA), where she faced heavy backlash for her extreme actions.
Initially, the woman lived alone but decided to share her space with a 27-year-old male friend of a friend due to financial constraints.
Describing him as “fine at first” - a non-smoker who paid his share of the rent - she quickly found her new living arrangement less than ideal.
After returning home from her night shifts, she realised her food kept disappearing, regardless of her attempts to label and secure her meals. “I even started to label everything I made with my name, but my food still kept disappearing, which pissed me off,” she explained.
Despite multiple confrontations where her flatmate denied any wrongdoing, the woman became increasingly vigilant.
She recounted one particularly frustrating incident where she had prepared ribs specifically to reheat after work, only to come home to an empty container, despite prior warnings sent through text and pictures.
“Plus, I even caught him eating my food a few times, so that just shows that he’s a sly pig,” she added.
Feeling pushed to her limits, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Aware that her flatmate was severely allergic to nuts, she prepared a plan using almond powder mixed into a tray of mac and cheese, boldly declaring her intentions.
“I gave this guy a chance to spare his life, I told him not to eat it. I even made sure to tell him, ‘Hey, that mac and cheese is mine. Don’t touch it,” she recounted.
To document her findings, she set up a secret camera, convinced her suspicions would soon be validated.
Upon her return home, the woman discovered that not only had her flatmate polished off the mac and cheese, but what followed was a nightmare scenario.
A few hours later, she received a furious phone call from his mother, announcing that her flatmate had suffered an anaphylactic reaction and was hospitalised.
“She was screaming at me, accusing me of being a monster and poisoning her son by feeding him nuts. I told her that it was food not meant for him”, she recounted, defending her actions amidst accusations of being “careless”.
Despite admitting she felt no guilt, the shared post quickly divided opinions. While some Reddit users doubted the authenticity of the tale, others condemned her actions as reckless and dangerous.
The Reddit community seemed torn between empathy for her plight and disbelief at her extreme method of confronting a food thief.
AITAH for “poisoning” my roommate after he kept stealing my food?
byu/Senior_Key_1728 inAITAH
Food poisoning is a distressing experience that can lead to significant discomfort and health issues.
With the rising cases of foodborne illnesses globally, understanding the immediate steps to take if you suspect you have food poisoning is crucial for your health and safety.
If you suspect food poisoning, consider the following steps:
- Stay hydrated: Dehydration can occur quickly due to vomiting and diarrhoea. Drink fluids such as water, clear broths, or an oral rehydration solution to replenish lost fluids and electrolytes.
- Avoid solid foods: Until your symptoms improve, stick to a bland diet or no food at all. Once you feel ready, start with easy-to-digest foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
- Rest: Your body needs time to recover. Ensure that you get plenty of rest to help your immune system fight off the illness.
- Seek medical attention: If symptoms persist for more than 48 hours, or if you experience severe symptoms such as a high fever, severe abdominal pain, or signs of dehydration, seek medical assistance promptly.
- Report it: If you have reason to believe your food poisoning originated from a particular restaurant or food source, report the incident to your local health department to prevent others from becoming sick.