Bizarre Food Laws, Part 2
That we don’t eat when we’re on fire is self-evident. Or is it? In the US, there’s actually a law about it (just in case). And this is just one of the many laws that make us raise our eyebrows.
Americans are rather cautious when it comes to food. After all, Americans are known for suing people frequently and quickly. A woman once walked out of court with $480,000 because her McDonald’s coffee was allegedly too hot. To prevent these kinds of lawsuits, you’ll find disclaimers, laws and rules every few metres. These are the most bizarre:
Eating while you’re on fire
People, take notes! In Illinois, it’s against the law to eat in a restaurant (or other place) that is on fire. Huh? What? Because obviously, we wouldn’t get up when there’s a fire… Do you see a packed restaurant burning down during a visit to Illinois? Call the fire department and, uh, the police?
Eating the inside of a doughnut
What should you do with the leftover inside of a doughnut? Don’t sell it, at least (do-nut do it)! In Nebraska, that is. In the town of Lehigh, it’s actually prohibited. We’re all for preventing waste of the inside of the doughnut, but in Lehigh they’re not a fan.
Buying a round
We have the ideal tip for cheapskates with a large group of friends: move to Nevada. They have a law there that prohibits you from buying a drink for more than three people at once.
Slurping
This law is ideal for a first (or perhaps second) date, but after that we mainly want to just be ourselves. And yes, that includes slurping soup. This doesn’t fly in the state of New Jersey. There, slurping soup is strictly prohibited. Table manners are important, but whether they deserve a place in the law books…
Sleeping on a refrigerator
In the car, on the plane, on the back of a bicycle… Some people fall asleep anywhere. Enviable, right? Fortunately, Pennsylvania has a law that at least slightly reduces their options for sleeping spots. In this state, it’s prohibited to sleep on an outdoor refrigerator. We’re serious. Not the ideal place to sleep? In South Dakota, it’s also prohibited to sleep in a place where food is produced or processed. What a bummer, because sleeping in a milk factory just happens to be our biggest dream.
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