Why did many teams chose the smaller teammate in the caviar challenge?

[trekkietoo]

Since Russia is known for their caviar and vodka and the previous challenge had already done the latter, then they might have just correctly assumed caviar would be up next without really being sure.

The extreme saltiness is probably what caused the contestants to be ill.

[Thonolan]

Also, everyone who got stuck eating looked really ill at the pit stop. I think the ice cream analogy applies: ice cream (sick) and caviar (DOG sick).

Although I'm sure that none of them enjoyed it, I don't think that Chip, Charla, Lance or Linda looked sick at all. Everyone else looked totally wasted.