On the food and rights arguments (with no allergies in the equation) - I think if someone says "don't like x" that is their business. Depending on how they described why they didn't like it I might be saying "well to me that sounds like it was badly cooked or not fresh enough" - and make a suggestion as to how to better cook it. That is as far as I think it is reasonable to go, and I don't think that putting food in to trick someone to eat it is like a prank. There is no funny side to it that I can see - going ta da, you ate something you didn't like ha, ha, ha seems more like rubbing someone's nose in it. It could also be that if it was mixed in, like in a stew, they may have noticed the stuff and ate it so as not to make a fuss at a dinner party, but didn't enjoy the meal at what should have been a pleasant and relaxing occasion.
I objected to being made to eat food I didn't like when I was a kid and when I became an adult not having to do what I was told in terms of being made to eat something was one of the bonuses. I am careful to eat plenty of fruit and veg - but I don't include spinach or rocket in that! I would certainly be open to the "I think it was the way it was cooked, would you try a forkful of this" argument but if someone attempted to trick me into eating something I didn't want to I would regard it as being treated as a child. In terms of offensiveness I'd rank it with someone coming into your house and rearranging your kitchen cupboards because their way is much better.
Its another example of "The way to Hell is paved with good intentions." What one person feels as being a reasonable thing to do, which is for the benefit of the other person and for which they have good intentions, can be very different from the point of view of the person on the receiving end of the good intention. Then being told "I meant it for the best" in a hurt and offended tone of voice is profoundly irritating.
I objected to being made to eat food I didn't like when I was a kid and when I became an adult not having to do what I was told in terms of being made to eat something was one of the bonuses. I am careful to eat plenty of fruit and veg - but I don't include spinach or rocket in that! I would certainly be open to the "I think it was the way it was cooked, would you try a forkful of this" argument but if someone attempted to trick me into eating something I didn't want to I would regard it as being treated as a child. In terms of offensiveness I'd rank it with someone coming into your house and rearranging your kitchen cupboards because their way is much better.
Its another example of "The way to Hell is paved with good intentions." What one person feels as being a reasonable thing to do, which is for the benefit of the other person and for which they have good intentions, can be very different from the point of view of the person on the receiving end of the good intention. Then being told "I meant it for the best" in a hurt and offended tone of voice is profoundly irritating.