A new survey from AO.com has unveiled the most irritating habits of British workers when it comes to sharing a communal office fridge, with meat juice, mouldy food, and unsealed containers topping the list of the nation’s biggest food storage pet peeves.

The study found that nearly half of Brits admit they would be “put off” by a colleague’s poor fridge etiquette. The survey highlighted the worst offences that lead to tension in the workplace, with mouldy food being the top grievance across the country.

From meat juice dripping onto shelves to improperly covered containers, these fridge faux pas are causing friction in offices nationwide. According to a survey by fridge and freezer retailer AO.com, half of Brits would judge a coworker, friend, or even a partner more harshly because of their poor fridge habits.

Among the most common complaints are:

• Mouldy food left in the fridge
• Meat juice contaminating fridge shelves
• Uncovered containers of food, such as meats
• Vegetable juice collecting in the bottom of the fridge drawer
• Leaving the fridge door open during a heatwave
• Breadcrumbs left in the butter
• Storing pet food alongside human food

The results also highlighted how different industries prioritise their fridge pet peeves. For example, HR professionals rank breadcrumbs in the butter as one of the worst offences, while those in the transport sector find storing pet food next to human food to be particularly egregious. Finance workers are particularly sensitive to energy waste, listing the habit of leaving the fridge door open in a heatwave as a top concern.

Sarah Heaps, a food storage expert at AO.com, said: “These results highlight how cleanliness and organisation in shared spaces like the fridge can significantly impact working relationships. Simple practices like cling-filming open containers and regularly checking for mould can prevent these common ‘icks’ and maintain harmony in the office.”

In response to the survey, AO.com has launched a new refrigeration hub offering tips and tricks to help people better store their food both at work and at home, aiming to keep the peace in shared spaces.