Lunchbox Shaming and Ethnocentrism

This is an interesting article on cultural diversity surrounding lunch boxes.

The author’s son was shamed at school for his “stinky” lunch.

I’ve seen this firsthand. People in my office constantly talk about what food smells like in the break room. I’ve heard negative comments about other people’s food, especially if it’s ethnic food.

Is it ethnocentric to shame anyone who brings lunches that aren’t plain soups, salads and sandwiches? Is it that the food is “stinky”, or are some people just not used to smelling food made with spices and seasonings of other cultures?