This is a scary topic – and one that I find less and less stations and staff members are taking note of.
Years ago when listeners bought food into the station for the Jocks, just to ‘say thanks’… as soon as they left – it would be dumped in the bin.
Why? Because you never – EVER – know what is in it.
Don’t believe me? The following comment is from the www.radiodiscussions.com forum by Kelly A from last year:
Now I have even personally experienced this – at a previous station where I worked at receiving a HUGE chocolate cake (large enough for easily 100 people to have a slice of) – which it turned out, was laced with laxatives. 60% of the staff were out for the next day. It was devastating! And quickly a policy was put in place to never allow that to happen again.
Now… I work at a small station that accepts these ‘free food’ deliveries and the staff do devour them – but I don’t and won’t go near them for fear of ‘the public’.
We’ve had food dropped off for jocks who were leaving, listeners giving food to a jock for their birthday, even food that looks like it had been sealed by a business, or a purchased cake from a bakers (NOPE I won’t trust them!)
Then we have had clients dropping off food (acceptable if they are a business who makes food, but not if they don’t).
In full disclosure, this wasn’t always the case for me – when I was much younger (and dumber) I accepted food delivered to the back door when doing a midnight to dawn talkback show – and ate it. I was never sure what was on that pizza, but it wasn’t the normal ‘herbs and spices’ and it wasn’t a normal shift on-air show as a result either!
My advice is – never, EVER eat anything a listener drops off – unless it is sealed, or delivered by a business. Save yourself, and most importantly – save your fellow co-workers – and drop it into the bin.
Just don’t do it!
