BMJ  2006;332:121 (14 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7533.121

Letter

Disappearing teaspoons

French data indicate global phenomenon

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

Editor—I read with interest the longitudinal cohort study of the displacement of teaspoons in an Australian research institute reported by Lim et al.¹

In France, the tea ritual is not as widespread as in English speaking countries, but spoons are also used during conventional meals. Unpublished data obtained in our hospital located near Paris show that in the first five months of 2001, some 1800 spoons disappeared during lunchtime from the workplace cafeteria, which is attended by about 550 employees. These disappearances occurred despite (or because) of the fact that 6000 spoons had been purchased the previous year.

Lim et al may be right when they postulate that spoon disappearance may implicate the whole planet. Measures against the loss of (tea)spoons may be not only a national but a global priority.

Centre de Forcilles, 77150 Férolles-Attilly, France herer@forcilles.com

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Competing interests: None declared.

1. Lim MSC, Hellard ME, Aitken CK. The case of the disappearing teaspoons: longitudinal cohort study of the displacement of teaspoons in an Australian research institute. BMJ 2005;331: 1498-500. (24-31 December.)[Abstract/Free Full Text]

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Relevant Article

The case of the disappearing teaspoons: longitudinal cohort study of the displacement of teaspoons in an Australian research institute

Megan S C Lim, Margaret E Hellard, and Campbell K Aitken
BMJ 2005 331: 1498-1500. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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