Is it rude to eat during a video call?
Guilty
The short answer
With the camera and microphone off, eating is fine. With both on, especially while presenting, it is rude.
The ruling
From the public record. Names are replaced with roles.
Small claims division
Case no.PC-2026-06088
The coworker running the call v. The coworker who ate cereal on camera
Filed 10/18/2026
- Plaintiff
- The coworker running the call
- Defendant
- The coworker who ate cereal on camera
Statement of claim
We had a 30-minute team call at 9. He ate a full bowl of cereal on camera with his microphone on. The crunching came through over everyone. He was presenting the next slide.
Charge
Consumption of crunchy cereal, on camera and unmuted, during a team call he was presenting in
Judgment
Guilty
Coworker found guilty of crunching cereal through his own slides
Sentence
The defendant eats breakfast before 9 or with the camera off, and presents his next slide at a later meeting, without cereal.
How the court usually rules on this
The court weighs three things: the camera, the microphone and the role. A quiet snack with the camera off is not an offense. Eating a full meal on camera during a small meeting is rude, and crunchy food with the microphone on is worse. Meetings booked over lunch are the exception, and the organizer bears the blame.
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