Researchers put a fork in theory about cutlery going missing at work

“The aim of our study was therefore to evaluate the circulation lifespan of forks, and to compare it with that of teaspoons in a hospital multidisciplinary tearoom,” they wrote.

Obviously not prepared to do things by halves, the researchers sought and gained the green light from the hospital’s ethics committee, which gave them its enthusiastic approval.

“Cutlery, and in particular fork, disappearance within institutions remains one of the central conundrums [of] our time,” the committee wrote.

Suitably empowered, the research team introduced 18 stainless steel forks and 18 stainless steel teaspoons into their work break room, all marked with a dot of red nail polish, and observed their movements over 45 days.

Over the experiment…