I'm the guy that sneezes at restaurants! NEVER at home..

[RickHenry]

At least when eating.  But almost EVERY #$$%@ time at a restaurant!  Seriously, something is wrong!  Don't take it out on your husbands, they probably hate it even more then you do.  I mean, what man wants to walk away from food.  If I don't and I feel the sneezes coming one, it is embarrassing as I sneeze at LEAST 15 times!  Hard sneezes too!  Seriously, if anyone figures it out post it here!  I think there is some preservative in the food that is used at most/all restaurants.  Just wish I knew exactly what it is so I could avoid it.


This discussion is related to why does my boyfriend sneeze after eating?.

[caregiver222]

Many restaurants have automatic insect spray dispensers.

This ridiculous device has a solenoid plunger that after a set time, depresses a spray from an aerosol scented insecticide that dissfuse throughout the area.

Arghhh!

The device allegedly keeps the fly population down.

There is something in the chemicals that induces sneezes.

That is my candidate for the culprit.

[SexiiLovely]

sneezing only at restaurants and not at home? The sneezing might be a nervous tic. Because you are in a different environment then you're used to you body might use that to get comfortable. Or it might be something in the food, like you said. Some food places may add extra things that ppl wouldnt normally at their home, that could make you sneeze.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Generally sneezing in restaurants is due to mold as most have old air conditioners and carpets under which mold can collect.  Some have old walls, leaking taps etc, all which cause mold to grow. Other than that it could also be mixed flavors, spices, smoke and the closed environment.
Hope this helps. Take care!

[geminigirl1963]

I know with me, quite often it's different smells that set me off into a sneezing frenzy (although I'm not a man! -LOL)  And I know there are quite often different smells than what I'm normally exposed to in restaurants - different spices, people's perfum/cologne, sometimes fresh flowers - even the air fresheners they use in either the dining area or the restrooms (or the soap - restaurants ALWAYS seems to have scented soap in teh restrooms and that never fails to set me off, not only sneezing, but itching as well).  Another thing I've noticed is that many restaurants have their pepper in pepper mills as opposed to "regular" salt/pepper shakers and I have found that when I use pepper from a pepper mill I'm more apt to sneeze at it than I am when using a regular shaker.

I agree this can be embarassing!  But not only embarassing, but by the time I'm done sneezing, I have a hard time enjoying my meal because my nose is then plugged so I can't taste the food as well and my eyes are tearing from the sneezing fit.  So not only have I been embarassed by my sneezing, but I also feel like I've been "cheated" out of a good meal!

My heart goes out to you - I know what you go through!