Originally Posted by Doppy
It's funny, but that's a great analogy because, just like this security hysterial these days, the "bad Halloween candy" story isn't based on fact, either. There has never been a documented "razor blade in the apple" case, and I don't even know if there's been a "bad candy" one either. It's all about threats being blown out of proportion. Like the killer bees that were going to come and get us a few years ago.
Even so, I would be very hesitant about eating anything given to me by a stranger unless the food came in a wrapper that was reasonably tamper-proof and sealed. People have strange ideas, and someone might slip in tainted foodstuffs just for grins and giggles. There have been a number of relatively recent episodes of cops being served tainted food (cleaning chemicals, glass, spit) in fast food restaurants. I know of officers that won't eat anything in a restaurant unless it was prepared and wrapped before they arrived, or they watched it being prepared.
On several occasions, I've considered picking up some burgers, subs, or other sandwiches while en route to the airport so that I could give them to the flight crew in appreciation for their work, but I don't know if they would eat it, given these concerns.