This is one of these "delicate" situations!
How does my family nicely turn down well-meaning offerings of food from friends who live in a very dirty home with animals running around everywhere, including kitchen countertops and tables?
The home is filled with animal hair and stuff is hoarded everywhere. The home smells dreadful and the animals have urinated on most of the carpets and furniture and the smell is atrocious. The kitchen hasn't been cleaned in months. We don't socialize there at all. And if they want to live like that, I guess they can. (there are no kids). The people are good people but INSIST on "bringing a home-made dish" on the rare occasions they come over - like holiday season! Yikes!
There is just no way we're eating anything that comes out of that house. I'm now thinking of just making up a story about unusual allergies - anything to stop a dish from coming over. It's hard to ignore it and leave it sitting there, while other things are eaten. Then they'll leave with the untouched dish, and may feel bad. As much as we don't want to hurt feelings, we'd rather starve. Seriously!
Any words of advice?