But would the people having the party realise that others may have an issue with it? I would think that if they thought others might have an issue with the crap food, environmental impact etc, they would make alternate arrangements as it would strike a guilt cord somewhere in their system.

I am not argueing with you, more giving an insight from a niave person who had never really thought about where your coming from until I joined BB..
Yep, I’m sure they wouldn’t, so no matter how polite I am and whether I explain (or lie?) declining will come as a rude shock. I really did want to avoid that, but I guess there’s just no way around it. Either I offend them or they offend me. Oh well.... that’s life hey?