It doesn't have to be, but at the same time it is not a issue of "hurting the sentiments" at all.
As I mentioned in my other comment:
From religious POV, a fasting Muslim actually gets extra reward when other people eat in front of him. There are numerous incidents from authenticated Islamic history that show when a fasting Muslim was offered food, he/she would refuse saying "I am fasting and they(Muslims and non Muslims alike, even Prophet himself) would continue eating.
Such problems generally stem from ignorance and [it pains me to say] "I am the saviour of Islam" complex of [some]Muslims as a direct result of ignorance.
As I mentioned in my other comment: From religious POV, a fasting Muslim actually gets extra reward when other people eat in front of him. There are numerous incidents from authenticated Islamic history that show when a fasting Muslim was offered food, he/she would refuse saying "I am fasting and they(Muslims and non Muslims alike, even Prophet himself) would continue eating.
Such problems generally stem from ignorance and [it pains me to say] "I am the saviour of Islam" complex of [some]Muslims as a direct result of ignorance.