Originally Posted by
EdofFX
I agree that there is no specific rule against food in the overhead bin, but I also wonder whether the exchange between the passenger and the FA was accurately described in verbatim by OP. A slight change in description would have totally different interpretations. Perhaps OP can tell us what that food item was.
Even the wording chosen by the OP is subject to intepretation: "The rule is your food must be on floor under the seat, not in the overhead bin." "Your food" could mean generically "anyone's food," but in context, it could have also been a reference the specific type of food the OP had. If the FA made this statement in reaction to a bag of McDonald's, for example, I doubt anyone in the vicinity would have interpreted her to be saying that you can't have a granola bar in your carry-on.
As indicated above, a description of the food item that prompted this pronouncement would be useful.