5 replies to this topic

[HowdySunshine]

Went to Carl's Jr. last night and ordered 2 items that were listed on their webpage as gluten free:

* Low-carb 6-Dollar Burger (instead of a bun it has lettuce wrapped around it)
* Natural Cut Fries

I watched closely as the lady on the grill in the back made my order. She used the same gloves, same place on the surfaces as where "bunned" burgers had been...

What do you say, at the time of order, to get them to avoid this casual cross-contamination?

[kareng]

You can ask for fresh gloves, etc. Around here, most of the fast food workers don't speak enough English to get them to understand.

[1desperateladysaved]

I would say, "No, thank you." It doesn't sound possible to fix buns being cooked on the same surface as your burger.

[rosetapper23]

I've eaten at many Carl's Jr. restaurants in the past nine years, and I've never been glutened. Their policy is that you should request to speak to the manager. Explain that you have an extreme wheat allergy (this is something they understand) and that you would like to be ensured that there will be no cross-contamination. It's been my experience that the manager him/herself will either make my order or supervise an employee during the entire process. I always thank them and say that they're the only fast food restaurant I trust to serve me safely (though, Wendy's, Chipotle, and a handful of other places do a decent job, too). They always seem to take special care with my orders. I don't go out of my way to eat at a Carl's Jr. restaurant, but when I'm on a trip down a lonely highway with no chance of a gluten-free meal in sight, I know that I can receive safe food there.

[lovegrov]

Make sure those fries are done in a dedicated fryer. They aren't at Hardees, which is pretty much the same as Carl's.

richard

[GFestes]

I only trust 2 fast food restaurants so far. Carl's is one of them -- but I only have experience with ONE of their restaurants. They were around the corner from my office. They were often an easy answer to a harried work day. (We have now moved so it has been 3 months since I ate there.) The first time there I was very nervous. We asked for fresh gloves -- explaining just how very sick I can get from cross contamination. Thereafter, Maria (the manager) would see us walk in. She has been CONSISTENTLY careful with my food amd she trained at least one other manager.

Unless something has changed, Carl's does not cook buns ON the GRILL but the area AROUND the grill is no man's land. It is necessary at the onset to impress upon them that your food cannot touch the counter. I would get the lettuce wrapped burger with tomato, lettuce, onion, and cheese. Maria would get my meat cheese, onion, and lettuce from the cooler -- not using what was readily available. Coca Cola is normally safe but I was not impressed with the cup handling so I provided ny own beverage. DO NOT eat the mayo. I also had them omit mustard, catsup, and relish as unidentified. (We stocked such things at our office.) I was NEVER brave enough to try their fries. Most fast food restaurants cross handle and use one fryer for ALL foods. I hope this helps.