A company has banned its staff from sharing food at work, including birthday cake or party food, due to ‘health and safety’ fears.  

Employees at exhibition stand designers Quadrant2Design were told that the fun tradition had to stop because of the risks of people getting allergic reactions or falling ill from sharing food. 

The company, based in Poole, Dorset, said it had banned all food sharing at work in response to ‘growing legal, insurance and compliance risks’. 

One employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said the decision was an example of ‘an increasing overreach of modern employment regulation’. 

The staff member said: ‘What makes this striking is that the company can still provide food for clients and visitors. 

‘That raises questions about the consistency and practicality of rules businesses are expected to follow.’ 

They added that staff had also been warned not to bring children into the workplace due to concerns over health and safety. 

The employee added: ‘Taken together, these measures paint a picture of a workplace where long-standing social traditions, such as bringing in cakes for a colleague’s birthday, are being removed due to fear of legal exposure. 

Company boss Alan Jenkins said the move was necessary and not due to ‘regulatory overreach’ 

‘It raises a broader question – are current employment and compliance expectations going too far?’ 

Founder Alan Jenkins said the move was necessary as food brought in by colleagues was often from holidays to foreign countries, where standards differ, and may contain nuts or other undisclosed ingredients. 

He said employees may still bring in food and drink for their own use. 

Mr Jenkins said: ‘Our experience is that a growing number of people have allergies, sometimes undisclosed to the company or their colleagues. 

‘Allowing mixed food items from unknown sources, countries or labelling is a risk we’re not prepared to accept. Regulatory overreach is not a factor in our policy. 

‘It’s a measured response to clearly identified risks to the health and safety of our colleagues and others.’ 

Mr Jenkins added that the decision to ban children from the workplace was ‘standard health and safety practice’ due to the presence of machinery with moving parts, scalpels and other blades in the office. 

Alan Jenkins founded the company with his wife, Elizabeth, in 1999 and is the company’s Managing Director. 

Before starting the company, which states it is now the ‘UK’s premier exhibition stand design and build contractor, he worked as a consultant. 

Quadrant2Design were contacted for comment.