Mom Is Shocked When Teacher Calls Her To Say The Lunches She Gives Her Son Are “Inappropriate”

Pickled herring is common in my country, but bring it for lunch in said country and everyone WILL judge you for stinking up the place. It's basic courtesy to not bring mega smelly foods to lunch, whether those foods are foreign or not.

I don't believe this situations real. It sounds more like a post trying to stir some reaction and outrage... If by any chance this situation was real, then the poster and the teacher are a bit insensitive each in their own ways. As a Kimchi lover I would be hesitant to bring some to work, knowing not everyone enjoys the smell of it, even in my own house I face resistance and criticism from people who love me otherwise (no racism at play).

i think esh, more so the teacher but still. also that one comment "sandwiches cut into the shapes of d***s" was hilarious

Why is it bc a certain culture or race has stinky food that someone complaining about is automatically a racist? I'm a white American who likes sardines, I know better than to eat it in public. If I was dumb enough to eat in public and a person of color complained about it, I would never consider it racist. People are so quick to assume racism and they are the dumb ones.

I think soft ESH but that teacher is being a rude jerk with her tone

Once, when I was moving out of a loft, I was carrying a box of kitchen stuff to the elevator. Near the top was a large bottle of fermented fish sauce. As I stepped onto the elevator, the bottle fell and shattered, right in the gap between the lift and the shaft, raining down all 9 stories. I felt so ashamed and terrible for my neighbors. I swept and mopped as best I could, but the damage was done. I got to the ground floor, loaded the box into the van, and told my partner, "There's nothing else we need up there. Just drive."

"I sent my son to school with Surströmming, Limburger cheese, Durian, Natto, and a Century Egg. AITA?"

ESH. Just don't. OK? Focus on the kid's education, and just inform the mom you don't stink-bomb people just because... I mean, there are some stenchy cheeses out there, but did we take them to school? No. It's just common courtesy to realize that strong smells are, gee, often offensive to others. (And I say that as someone who grew up on a farm. To offend this nose, you gotta work at it.)

There's a reason Kimchi refrigerators exist. Koreans know that kimchi has a strong aroma. I keep mine in a sealed container or my fridge will stink. This woman was probably trying to prove some sort of point about culture and racism. Except that bleu cheese is a different culture so the point becomes moot.

I don't think Sriracha is appropriate to bring into a confined space. I know this is hard to believe for people who love it, but some of us and our kids will experience painful burning in our nose, mouth and eyes just from spelling it a few feet away. Having said that, the teacher's comments are laced with racist vibes.

Nta but also not right. It's the teachers job to ensure that all children are happy and sometimes not all children can get everything they want. Not all parents understand that right away and it's the teachers job to explain it, preferably in a more diplomatic and professional manner than described here.

The reddit post is 4 days old, and OP's account is already suspended. Me thinks we have a troll.

Lol what. I took many unusual things to school for lunch. No one ever complained, in fact people would trade me. Kimchi, esp when cold and kept cold with an ice pack is not smelly. I am not korean but I eat chilled kimchi at work, no complaints. It is no more smelly than a thermos of chunky brand chili or if a kid heats up a slice of supreme pizza. I used to take seaweed salad, zilzil tibs, codfish and ackee, etc. I brought various with blue cheese dip because i didn't like ranch. Yes many people had ham sandwiches but I was not from a ham sandwich kind of family and there were absolutely no complaints. Obviously i was conscious of the food smell so would underheat items that could be considered pungent (ie. Coucou with fish gravy) but other kids weren't always as considerate with heating their french onion soup or cabbage rolls and such... no one complained, no one cared. This very much seems like an issue with the teacher. I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion but in my experience... nta

This sounds like a perfect teaching moment to this educator. Not only about different cultures and diversity, but also as an experience to sample ethnic cuisine. American food can be pretty nasty and smelly as well as the "end" results from the gastro-intestinal tract.

In between. I understand the teachers point view and I am myself Korean. But she could have definitely said something else. It would have been YTA if she had not thrown racism into it. But I would say 50/50 YTA and NTA

Reminds me of when I was in college (long ago, 60 two person rooms off one hallway.) and I liked to put kimchi in my Ramen noodles and everyone on the whole floor would complain without knowing what the problem was. Maybe it was a subconscious rebellion against the pot smell I did not like!

Oh boy, this one really hits home for me. 7th grade I think it was. The worst coach the school ever had got hold of my lunch. Called me into his office and laid into me about it's contents. Told me he was calling mom blah blah blah. See, he was under the impression "I" packed it due to the contents. Mom, like the one in this post, sent what she knew I'd eat. Not the healthiest lunch but eating anything is better then eating nothing. So he calls and she lays him out. She came home wanting to know who the a***ole is? And what makes him think he ahs any right to lecture her on my lunch etc. She was still steaming and I was laughing. Tat coach and I had bumped heads a few times before this but he pretty much stayed clear of me when mom got through with him. I'd have to look back at my yearbooks but I'm thinking he wasn't there the following year.

Teacher had a teensy point, but sounded nasty. If you can't have a sense of humor over stinky lunches, keep your mouth shut. Settings matter. Is this in a cafeteria, a classroom? My school used to boil cabbage or broccoli or cauliflower; I think 100 servings of those stink way worse than 1 serving of kimchi... but I'm kinda guessing this is a small classroom, since the teacher seems to have more feelings about "EW!" than about what's best for the kid's socialization. OTOH, it's POSSIBLE the issue is just plain racism.

I just can't get over one comment about popcorn?? My school SOLD popcorn. I mean everyone hated the kind that burned it but if you don't burn it, whatever

NTA at all. Teacher was completely out of line an none of her business. Go straight to the principal about this teacher, show the email as well. If that doesn't do anything go to the Superintendent. This teacher could be a treat to your son by not feeding him his lunch

Everyone saying it's racist...I could point out a dozen posts here where we talk about people microwaving fish in the company break room as an offense that incites people to want to fire them. So...it's just a common sense thing. I wouldn't necessarily send fish in. But at the end of the day, I can't stand the smell of corned beef or certain meats...smell is a little subjective so feed your kid whatever you want but know you're unnecessarily annoying everyone and I don't know why this is the hill you want to die on. My aunt is Korean and the food is amazing and I learned how to cook a lot of it. There are plenty of Korean foods that don't smell bad that you could feed him if you insist on that. Dumplings, chicken gimbap, etc. Or maybe you could just make some more basic fare for school.

There truly are disgusting things that people, inlcuding children, eat ... even enjoy, or at least say so. Kimchi, for example, I tried and don't like. Spam ... I remember having eaten it some time around 10 years old, and it was just as disgusting as I thought it to be. But ... but, the teacher here is overstepping something, in case the meals are neither poisonous nor spark anyones' allergic reactions. If we agree on being free to eat whatever we want to, there cannot be a reasonable exception in regard to children, unless you'd feed them opium or booze... NTA.

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Seriously none of her business.

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NTA. First and foremost, you do NOT call a parent and behave so disrespectfully. This is not a child you are speaking to. If you want change, do so in a respectful manner. Second, this teacher didn't make it clear what the problem was. Okay, it's smelly. Is it smelly throughout the day (needs to be better packed) or is it only smelly when ate (the kid needs to find a more appropriate place to eat it? This teacher started the conversation aggressively and antgonisitically and followed up by doubling down in an email. If they want change, start over. You owe her nothing. If the food is aggregiously smelly or unhealthy or whatever. That conservation and resolution can happen when the teacher learns to be respectful.

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Are people that offended by the smell of food? Does kimchi really smell that much to people? I eat a lot of those foods often. I think people can get over it. Seems really idiotic. I am genuinely confused.