Brown-Bag Boom Makes for Stinky Office Fridges

A rise in brown-bag lunches is turning office fridges nationwide from a munchies Mecca into an oversized Petri dish—and workers are crying foul, the Chicago Tribune reports. Booming food prices and health concerns are increasing bring-your-own numbers, but the good stuff doesn't always get eaten. "I've found things like liquefied carrots," says one refrigerator cleaner.

It's turned into a hot debate, with refrigerator ranters falling into two groups: those who raise pinched noses at the behavior, and others who design elaborate rules to ensure proper use. Meanwhile, good food like leftover pizza often mysteriously disappears, despite protective measures by rightful owners. "We've thought of baking cupcakes with Ex-Lax as revenge, but we haven't taken it that far," says one hungry victim. "Yet." (More food stories.)