People largely stopped eating with their hands in Western cultures by the 19th century.
While the transition wasn't instantaneous or uniform across all social classes and geographical regions, the 19th century marks the period when using cutlery became the established norm for most meals in Europe and, by extension, North America. This shift was driven by a combination of factors, including:
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Increased Specialization of Cutlery: The 19th century saw a proliferation of specialized utensils, like fish knives and snail forks, making eating certain foods with hands less practical and less socially acceptable.
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Evolving Social Etiquette: Dining evolved from a communal activity to a more individualistic one during the Age of Enlightenment. The way we eat became a symbol of refinement, and cutlery was considered essential for proper etiquette. Eating with hands gradually became seen as uncouth or barbaric in upper and middle-class circles.
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Industrial Revolution & Mass Production: The Industrial Revolution led to the mass production of affordable cutlery. This made it more accessible to a larger segment of the population, further accelerating its adoption.
It's important to note:
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Regional Variations: Even today, in some cultures and contexts (like eating certain ethnic foods or sharing a family-style meal), eating with hands remains common and accepted, or even preferred.
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Ongoing Evolution: Dining customs are always changing. While forks, knives, and spoons are standard, other utensils like chopsticks, sporks, and specialized serving tools continue to evolve.
Therefore, while eating with hands didn't completely disappear, the 19th century marked the point when it ceased to be the norm in many parts of the world, replaced by a preference for using cutlery.
