a feeling of guilt or shame provoked through the use of red colored tongs to select less healthy food items in a public setting.
The notion of using red colored tongs to provoke a subliminal shame response in employees was popularized by corporate shame-based cafeterias (aka shameterias). Forcing employees to make healthier food choices through peer pressure and shame was thought to improve health metrics and thereby reduce medical costs. In its early adoption, many employees resented the notion of employers applying such overt tactics to "encourage" healthier eating. Negative opinions quickly changed however as record numbers of employees developed serious eating disorders and became bulemic and/or anorexic. The tongshame campaign was so effective in fact, many shameterias were "eliminated" completely due to lack of interest in eating altogether.
by HaloGodMoves February 14, 2015