'My flatmate kept stealing my food - my spicy revenge sorted him right out'

Living in sharedaccommodation isn't always straightforward, especially if your flatmates aren't as considerate as you. One Reddit user who was fed up with their flatmate claims they got 'petty revenge' after the flatmate kept stealing their leftover food.

Posting on the platform'sr/pettyrevenge, the post said: "In our shared house, Mike always ate my leftovers, despite my labelled containers. His excuse? 'I thought it was communal!' After losing my lasagna one too many times, I plotted revenge." For the revenge plot, the foodie whipped up a less-than-desirable dish.

They explained: "I made a batch of brownies, but with a twist: I swapped half the sugar for salt and added a dash of super-spicy hot sauce to the batter. They looked perfect, smelled divine, but tasted like a salty, fiery nightmare. I left them in an unlabeled container on the counter, knowing Mike’s greed."

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As you might expect, Mike wasn't too happy when he tried one of the brownies. "That evening, I heard him coughing and gagging in the kitchen. 'Who made these?!' he yelled, chugging water. I strolled in, feigning concern. 'Oh, those? I was experimenting. Didn’t think anyone would eat them.'"

Concluding the post, the writer said Mike never repeated his mistake. "His face was red, pride wounded. He never touched my food again," the post said.

One impressed reply said: "Oh man, sweet, salty justice. Ngl, prob woulda done the same thing if someone ghosted my lasagna on the reg. Gotta respect the food labels, not rocket science Mike. Karma's a dish best served hot as hell."

For anyone dealing with a food thief, the University of Nottingham offers advice for students living in shared accommodation — and the advice is widely applicable. While it's not always true, the student blog points out that these mistakes are often accidental. As such, it's important not to jump to conclusions.

"Before you confront anyone, it’s important not to jump to conclusions. Shared fridges and cupboards can get messy, and it’s easy for food to get moved around or accidentally used by someone who thinks it’s theirs. Double-check where you’ve put your food and consider if there’s been any mix-up. 9 out of 10 flatmates won't steal your food and if they do, it's completely unintentional."

Labelling your food clearly is a simple method to avoid confusion. "You can use stickers, masking tape, or even a simple note written directly on the packaging. Labelling can make it easier for everyone to keep track of what’s theirs."

However, if the problem persists, it might be time for a conversation. "If you suspect someone is taking your food, the best first step is to chat with your flatmates. Start the conversation casually, without accusations. For example, you might say, 'Hey, I noticed some of my food has been disappearing from the fridge. Has anyone accidentally used it?'

"This opens up the discussion without putting anyone on the defensive. If the problem persists, suggest having a quick flat meeting to discuss kitchen rules. This can be a good opportunity to establish clear guidelines on food sharing and storage."