Why I Don't Trust Pizza Hut

[sunny2012]

This appeared in our local news. These are safety standards to protect EVERY guest at a local pizza restaurant. There is nothing special being done for allergic/auto immune patrons here. Yet, they failed to follow even the simple hand washing protocol. 

 

Why would I trust that every employee would follow the even stricter requirements for a Celiac needing gluten free to preserve our health? We can't even see the cross contamination or test for it.

 

Just my personal opinion.

 

From the local news (identity protected):

A County pizza restaurant failed its recent health inspection.

******* Pizza on ***** Road in town-name got a score of 61 out of 100.

The violations include a hand-washing issue and a problem with storing chemicals.

The restaurant's management told us they're eager to improve their score.

“The health of the public is the most important part of the business,” manager ************* said.

The management at *********** Pizza said it's disappointed with the failing health score and is already working to address the problems.

** Action News obtained the inspection report.

--It says an "employee worked the cash register and then grabbed clean gloves to work with food," but "he didn't wash his hands.”

--It also says "foods at the counter were not time-stamped,”

--“chemical spray bottles stored with food on the storage shelves,”

and

--"sanitizer buckets stored on top of the soda syrups."

 

"It was just a one-time situation, you know, that he was busy and it's really about coaching and teaching, just creating those habits in the restaurant,” said manager-name.

 

When they get busy they fail to follow even the standards required for EVERY customer. And the manager excused this behavior. It is reasonable to expect similar behavior out of other chain restaurant employees with the excuse that they are busy. 

[bartfull]

I have worked in restaurants and I'm here to tell you that it isn't just chain restaurants that are scary. When it is busy the cooks get surly and even if you write in large letters and tell them in person that a customer has allergies, they will often either forget and then just remove the offending food from the plate, or sometimes deliberately put it on there.

 

That's why most of us here tell people to never go to a restaurant at a busy time. Personally, there is only one place I trust no matter what, and that is because they have celiacs in their family and actually make their gluten-free food in a totally different room (with a closed door).

 

I HAVE eaten at Outback once too and although I didn't get sick I thought they were overpriced and the food wasn't that good.

[cristiana]

Bartfull, you are so right.   Even some of the most well-meaning of restaurant/kitchen staff will get it wrong:  either they don't understand how serious cc is or don't know what gluten is!  The other day I went out and there were items marked 'G' on the menu.  The key said this meant that the items in question were gluten free. Yippee I thought.  But when my friend went to order on my behalf the waiter said, no, that 'G' meant those products contained gluten.  I decided not to order!

 

I am getting neuro symptoms just now, mild, but similar to those I had around the time of DX.  I am absolutely convinced that this is happening because I have started believing what I am told about a product being gluten-free when I go out.  I never used to eat out, would take a banana and drink tea or coffee and watch everyone else eat and my symptoms faded.  

 

Now the neuropathy is back, I am fed up with it and am going to go back to my banana diet!

[icelandgirl]

I do the same cristiana...bring a banana or a bag of blueberries with me everywhere. So much safer!

[cristiana]

Or the odd chocolate!

[icelandgirl]

Nothing wrong with a little chocolate! I took my kids to a movie last weekend and brought with me a little bag of Enjoy Life chocolate chips...soo good!

[psawyer]

I have eaten happily at Outback more times than I can count. I have had the gluten-free pizza from Pizza Pizza here in Ontario. I have not yet had the opportunity to try the offering from Pizza Hut, but when I can, I will. I also eat gluten-free at The Keg Steakhouse and at Il Fornello. Yes, there can be mistakes at the delivery point, but I just won't spend my life worrying about it.

[Gemini]

I have to agree, Peter.  We always have to be careful when eating out but I have done so successfully over the past 10 years gluten-free and my gluten meter runs to pretty low sensitivity levels.  I know when I have been mildly cc'd so its easy for me to tell when I have been glutened.  I would add that if you are newly diagnosed, eating out may have to take a back seat for a little bit, until you feel better but with a little homework, anyone can eat out successfully and not fear the whole process.

 

My favorite pizza place does a stellar job and its the only place I order pizza.  That is manly because it is sooooooo good...the best gluten-free pizza I have had in the US.

[kareng]

Just want to point out - the health report quoted by the OP has nothing to do with any Pizza Hut.  It is a health inspection report from another restaruant.  

[DezMae]

No restaurant unless completely gluten free will be 100% safe. Depends if you want to chance it :/ i went and tried the pizza Hut near me recently. They did really good with the safety.no contamination here. they did burn the crust some tho :/