NBR: Food allergies

TJ1979

Sorry MK.

So at a restaurant yesterday, I spent a significant amount of time with the waiter going over the ingredients of my salad and what I could not eat on the salad. About 1/3 of the way through eating the salad, I realized there were pine nuts in the salad (which were not listed on the menu or mentioned in our discussion.)

I sent it back, they gave me a new one, then the manager came out and told me they were actually pumpkin seeds. Well, I'm familiar with both pumpkin seeds and pine nuts, and these definitely looked and felt like pine nuts.

Sure enough, about 15 minutes after nursing P, she projectile vomited for the next hour, then woke up this morning with a red, bumpy rash over her entire torso.

I've been totally nut free for at least 3 months due to nut allergy suspicion. Does this seal the deal? Or would the rash have been more immediate if it were related to the "pine nuts"? Anything I'm overlooking?

TJ1979

Obv we will be talking to an allergist when she is 1 or if we get more reactions as she tries solids. I'm just looking for anecdotal info here.

EssJayCee

No info on the potential food allergy, but I would be pissed if in your shoes. Pine nuts and pumpkin seeds look different enough for you to be able to tell the difference, and I don't like that he tried to tell you that. I hope you get some good info and P is feeling better.

TJ1979

stringy813 said:

Hugs TJ. I can't help -but I echo that they better have at least given you a refund and apology. What if you were the one allergic and projectile vomited on the spot? Or obviously worse. Ugh.

Nope. No refund and only a half assed apology. I was pretty unimpressed.

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TJ1979

Dang it!!!!!!

TJ1979

They won't refer us until she is older, or starts having bad reactions as she tries solids (which she isn't interested in.) Allergy testing isn't accurate before 1. Especially to things they have had little to no exposure to, since they test antibodies. I would rather not make her suffer through it twice if we have things under control now.

km_md

Poor P I'm sorry TJ. I'd be so pissed at that restaurant. At least own up to the mistake and apologize. I'd be much more understanding with an admission of human error than someone lying and trying to brush it off.

pblge

Wow. My DH and I both have to talk to servers about what's in dishes and this would SERIOUSLY piss me off. And how the EFF do you confuse pumpkin seeds and pine nuts?!?!

Sorry you went through this, and I hope your LO recovers soon.

stoneycakes

That is terrible. I would contact a higher up in the restaurant and tell them what happened. Allergies are no joke and it sounds like the employees there don't understand that.

TJ1979

I probably should have @stoneycakes.  I honestly felt quite belittled.  And it was in front of all my aunts and uncles and parents.  So it was kind of embarrassing, and I just wanted it to all end.  But I would hate for something like that happen to someone else, who could have a much worse reaction.

stoneycakes

That is seriously the worst. Especially because it already sucks to be "that guy" with all the questions about food. You should email them or something. It's not too late.

TJ1979

Good point.  I love a strongly worded email.

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TJ1979

That is appalling @theultimatesak.  Absolutely appalling.  I'm so sorry for your poor little guys.

stoneycakes

theultimatesak said:

In the spring we were traveling and stopped at a well known restaurant chain to get some food to go. My husband quizzed them to an embarrassing degree about what they put on/in their burgers and explained m and h's allergies in depth. When he was satisfied with their answers, he ordered M a burger. We got it and handed it to him in the car. He started eating about about 2 bites in said "I think there's cheese on this". Sure enough there was. We ended up having to find a hospital where he was administer epi. and steroids because he was struggling g to breathe. When I called the restaurant and asked to talk to the manager and told them what happened, she said "well I'm sorry, but what do you really want us to do about it". I explained that it's a serious life threatening issue to people and the staff needed to be aware, and she just said "well, mistakes happen". I wrote to the corporate office and never heard anything.

This is un-effing-acceptable. I wonder if the USDA or another gov't agency would do anything about it. When I had a dispute with my cell phone company and they wouldn't work with me, I made a formal complaint to the FCC and suddenly my cell phone company was totally cooperative. Funny how that works.

PipSqueak0313

Idk about the rest of the food allergy moms here, but to me, dealing with food allergies really takes a lot of fun out of going out to eat, especially food allergies to common ingredients.

TJ1979

PipSqueak0313 said:

Idk about the rest of the food allergy moms here, but to me, dealing with food allergies really takes a lot of fun out of going out to eat, especially food allergies to common ingredients.

Oh absolutely.  It's not a treat whatsoever anymore.  It's just another source of anxiety.

unaveragejane

I think a strong email is definitely in order, TJ. I'd also make a carefully worded negative review on their FB page. Some places will sit up and pay attention when they start getting bad press on social media.

And SAK, you should have sent the corporate office your hospital bill. That's just ridiculous.

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Nvywife

I myself have a nut allergy. and I can tell you it is very frustrating, especially when stuff like this happens. I would be sending an email with my feelings outlined. The fact that they didn't take an allergy more seriously is concerning, and you did bring it up prior to the meal. Sorry your baby is facing these food challenges. Hopefully she outgrows them.

sarenu1

In my hometown I never really had to deal with this (I worked food service a lot in high school).

However, we did have someone at a banquet with a nut allergy once.  We informed the chef right away and he actually prepared everything separate.

I've never had to deal with severe allergies.  You would think that places serving food would train people regarding nut and dairy free options.  Or at least the cooks.  

And I agree, if a place assures you that something is nut/dairy/soy/gluten free, they should pick up the hospital bill if it isn't.

stoneycakes

I've worked in a number of places where orders are taken from people with allergies and there has never been any formal training for how to deal with it. It has always been up to the discretion of whomever is preparing the food. And often people are completely ignorant as to what exactly is in the food, how severe allergies can be and how little of the allergen it takes to cause a reaction. It sucks.

TJ1979

I actually saw on a TV show recently a cook intentionally adding an ingredient that someone she was serving was allergic to, with full knowledge, and intentionally.  Saying that the food was just better with it in there.  I just can't even...

sarenu1

TJ1979 said:

I actually saw on a TV show recently a cook intentionally adding an ingredient that someone she was serving was allergic to, with full knowledge, and intentionally.  Saying that the food was just better with it in there.  I just can't even...

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