Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Resturant Refused To Tell Me Ingredients!

cajun celiac

By cajun celiac
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

Recommended Posts

cajun celiac Rookie
cajun celiac
Posted

I've only been gluten-free for about 3 weeks so a lot of this is very new to me. We normally go out to eat on Sundays after church with friends, kind of like a tradition. Yesterday we went to a BBQ place and I ordered a baked potato with chopped beef. Before they added the sauce I asked what the ingredients are because I have a serious food allergy. She refused to tell me! Apparently it is their "secret sauce". I told her I didn't want the recipe only to know the ingredients. She then asked me what ingredients I'm allergic to and then she would tell me if they were included. I was so irritated! Not that I thought I would actually be able to have the BBQ sauce but that's not the point. Do I have any rights here? I mean, food packages are forced to have their ingredients listed so is it different with resturants?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

As far as I know, there's no law requiring a restaurant to tell you ingredients, it's just good business. The new allergen law does not cover restaurants.

richard

StrongerToday Enthusiast
StrongerToday
Posted

If they can't tell you what's in or not in their recipe, I would never eat there. You're not asking for the "secret sauce" you want to make sure you're not going to have a serious health issue!

stef-the-kicking-cuty Enthusiast
stef-the-kicking-cuty
Posted

Hi Jillian,

that has happened to me, too. At a chinese restaurant. I replied the same way you did. After they heard about my "allergy", they told me to leave and that they wouldn't serve me :blink: . I guess, there's nothing you can't do. I decided not to eat at a restaurant anymore, that acts that stupid and tell other people about this, just to boycott them a little <_< .

Hugs, Stef

cajun celiac Rookie
cajun celiac
Posted
  • Author

Thanks everyone. I have decided I'll send a letter to the owner expressing my disappointment in his employees...I'll mention the number of times we've attended their resturant in the past and mention that 2 years ago I used them to cater a party. They will miss me as a faithful customer. I'll also throw in Richard's "it's just good business" comment.

Hey Stef - I cannot believe they asked you to leave! I would have been devastated. I guess they are fortunate you didn't respond with your martial arts!!! :o And I do love the irony of you living in Wheatfield.

TinkerbellSwt Collaborator
TinkerbellSwt
Posted

How rude they are! I dont blame you, write that letter. Let them know they lost a faithful customer just for the stupidity of their employees. Ruby Tuesday, the one time I went there since my Celiac disease, actually brought out the actual container the salad dressing comes in from where ever they ship from. It was a huge jug, like the kind in Costco's and Sams. It had all the ingredients. And when I asked about the bbq sauce, the manager went in the back and wrote down the ingredients, I chose not to have it anyway, rather be safe than sorry, he just wouldnt tell me the amounts. I had no problem with that. I hope they realize they lost a good customer. Sorry for the problem though. that stinks.

stef-the-kicking-cuty Enthusiast
stef-the-kicking-cuty
Posted

Hello Jillian,

I think, this is a great idea, that you want to write a letter. First I wanted to do the same, however I didn't at the time. I don't know why. Well, now it's about 2 years later and they probably won't remember anymore or have new employees. So much can change in 2 years. Then they also are about 90 minutes from us, so there's a slim chance I ever will go there again anyway. If it would have been around here in the neighborhood, I would have written a letter for sure. I couldn't believe, what they just said to me, when it happened that day. I was so surprised I didn't know what to answer. I just left and cried in the car. :o

Yes, the Wheatfield thing. I thought, it's pretty ironic, too! Actually the city we are connected to is New Bloomfield, however we are outside of New Bloomfield. And the township we live in is called Wheatfield. They have a lot of villages with "....field" at the end around here :P .

Hugs, Stef

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


tiffjake Enthusiast
tiffjake
Posted

I had that happen at Jack in the Box. When I first when gluten free, I read somewhere that the tacos were gluten free (which, by the way THEY ARE NOT). But I thought I was doing good! So I asked, while ordering, if they were fried with other stuff, because I saw someone loading them into a fry basket. The pimple faced butthead behind the counter said "that is jacks special secret" and I said "well, jack can pay for my hospital stay then!" and he got all freaked out!

So, I found out that they were not gluten free (more than just the fried part). And I admit, I was kinda rude, but the guy really ticked me off.

Now, if they won't tell me whats in it, I call the corporate office and tell them the whole story about Celiac Disease. This has always worked for me. Ouback wouldn't tell me about their Ceaser dressing, but they did tell me the ingredients, just not the details (amounts, etc.). They were really nice about it too, and wanted to help, just wanted to keep their "secrets" at the same time.

Anyway, just my story....

Viola 1 Rookie
Viola 1
Posted

Actually, I've had four restaurants that have asked me to leave. Two flattly told me (and a party of five) that they didn't have time to deal with diets and we should go elsewhere. :o

The other two were Chinese restaurants and told me they were two nervous to serve me, guess they didn't feel their kitchens were gluten free. :huh:

On the other side of things .. we were way up north close to the Yukon border and we went into this cute little restaurant hoping I could find something to eat. It was really cold and I wanted at least some hot tea. Anyway, we sent my card back to the kitchen and the Chef came out and sat down at the table and said that he had just made a big pot of beef soup and he was pretty sure I could have it. So he went over every ingredient and it was gluten free :P That was the best bowl of soup!!!

We also have a Chinese restaurant in Nelson that makes gluten free Chinese food and the best gluten free fish & chips!!! I love it there :P We are going into town tomorrow, so I will have the difficult decision of choosing between sweet & sour pork with chicken fried rice, or fish & chips ... maybe I'll have the fish & chips there and bring the sweet & sour pork with chicken fried rice home for supper. :lol:

stef-the-kicking-cuty Enthusiast
stef-the-kicking-cuty
Posted

Hi Shirley, that sounds really delicious. We also have a chinese restaurant around here. They even took Kathy and me :blink: back into the kitchen to show us everything and we could assure ourselves of all the labels and how they made the food. Isn't that cool?

Oh, and I never had a problem at any Outbacks, when I was checking ingredients of soups or dressings.

Viola 1 Rookie
Viola 1
Posted
Hi Shirley, that sounds really delicious. We also have a chinese restaurant around here. They even took Kathy and me :blink: back into the kitchen to show us everything and we could assure ourselves of all the labels and how they made the food. Isn't that cool?

Oh, and I never had a problem at any Outbacks, when I was checking ingredients of soups or dressings.

That really is cool ! It does make things a lot simpler if the staff is helpful. We realize it does take extra time, but most of us show it when we give a bigger than usual tip. :P

Somehow we have to get across that we 'as a gluten free community' have the right to eat like everyone else. Just because our "kinda disability" doesn't show outside, we should still have the same rights.

Although I guess, technically we could go over to the grocery store and have a piece of fruit or something. :rolleyes:

I guess this restaurant thing really isn't going to be solved until we all start going out in droves...Money talks :(

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

Yep, they can keep their 'trade secret'. And you can take your business elsewhere. :/ I'm glad you're sending a letter; I hope it will help!

tiffjake Enthusiast
tiffjake
Posted
Oh, and I never had a problem at any Outbacks, when I was checking ingredients of soups or dressings.

Well, *something* upset my stomach everytime I got the Ceaser dressing, EVERYTIME!! I think it was the anchovies. I was fine with Rach, Honey Mustard, you name it, just not Ceaser. Anyway, I just don't eat it now.

laurac Newbie
laurac
Posted

Well, *something* upset my stomach everytime I got the Ceaser dressing, EVERYTIME!! I think it was the anchovies. I was fine with Rach, Honey Mustard, you name it, just not Ceaser. Anyway, I just don't eat it now.

Outback has a pretty extensive gluten free menu. They tell me that their only salad dressing that contains gluten is the honey mustard.

tiffjake Enthusiast
tiffjake
Posted
Well, *something* upset my stomach everytime I got the Ceaser dressing, EVERYTIME!! I think it was the anchovies. I was fine with Rach, Honey Mustard, you name it, just not Ceaser. Anyway, I just don't eat it now.

Outback has a pretty extensive gluten free menu. They tell me that their only salad dressing that contains gluten is the honey mustard.

From what I understand, different regions are different. In my region, the Mustard Vineragrette (sp?) and the Bleu Cheese are on the NOT gluten-free list. The Honey Mustard (which is different) is gluten-free. But there is another poster here from Florida who works at Outback, and she says that in her area, there is only one dressing that is not gluten-free. <shrugs shoulders> I don't know.

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

At least in the U.S. all Outbacks are the same -- mustard vinaigrette and blue cheese are not gluten-free. The cheese itself is gluten-free, but some flavoring in the dressing either isn't or might not be.

richard

laurac Newbie
laurac
Posted
From what I understand, different regions are different. In my region, the Mustard Vineragrette (sp?) and the Bleu Cheese are on the NOT gluten-free list. The Honey Mustard (which is different) is gluten-free. But there is another poster here from Florida who works at Outback, and she says that in her area, there is only one dressing that is not gluten-free. <shrugs shoulders> I don't know.

Thanks for the info!! I assumed in a chain restaurant everything would be the same. I will be sure to ask when we go to different ones. This is all such a learning experience no matter how long you've been dealing with it!!!!

tiffjake Enthusiast
tiffjake
Posted
At least in the U.S. all Outbacks are the same -- mustard vinaigrette and blue cheese are not gluten-free. The cheese itself is gluten-free, but some flavoring in the dressing either isn't or might not be.

richard

I thought so too Richard, but someone here (and can't remember her name) works there, and she said that they make there own something or other at HER Outback, and it is safe....I can't remember, that was a couple of months ago......anyway, she stressed that HER Outback had a different dressing or something like that. If not for her post, I would totally agree with you. MY Outback said that different places didn't do their own dressings. I don't know.

stef-the-kicking-cuty Enthusiast
stef-the-kicking-cuty
Posted

I know, the honey mustard sauce that you get with this chicken (can't remember the name of that dish to safe my life) is glutenfree, because I get it everytime and never had a problem with it. I don't know about the honey mustard dressing :blink: heck, I didn't even know, they actually HAD honey mustard dressing :P .

@ Viola: Yes, that is really cool. We told her, we would come back regularly now. We haven't had the time yet though. I probably will go with Kathy this month though. This is the only asian restaurant, that I feel comfortable going to now during my pregnancy. Hmm! Maybe next weekend :lol:

Hugs, Stef

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

They don't have honey mustard, it's mustard vinaigrette.

richard

blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

Stef- Are you talking about the Alice Springs chicken?

stef-the-kicking-cuty Enthusiast
stef-the-kicking-cuty
Posted

Yes, that's it. Alice Springs Chicken. Hmmmm, and the mustard sauce to that Alice Springs Chicken is glutenfree. Oh, it's sooo good.

tiffjake Enthusiast
tiffjake
Posted
They don't have honey mustard, it's mustard vinaigrette.

richard

Yes they do. I had it today. It is a Honey Mustard Salad Dressing (they serve it with the Alice Springs Chicken, and you can get it on your salad). It is NOT the Mustard Vinaigrette, totally different. Perhaps a regional thing? But, they do have it....

tiffjake Enthusiast
tiffjake
Posted
Yes, that's it. Alice Springs Chicken. Hmmmm, and the mustard sauce to that Alice Springs Chicken is glutenfree. Oh, it's sooo good.

Oh yeah :) Had that tonight! It was super yummy! LOVE that Honey Mustard!!! I get the veggies and dip my veggies in there too!!! :)

tiffjake Enthusiast
tiffjake
Posted
Yes they do. I had it today. It is a Honey Mustard Salad Dressing (they serve it with the Alice Springs Chicken, and you can get it on your salad). It is NOT the Mustard Vinaigrette, totally different. Perhaps a regional thing? But, they do have it....

Open Original Shared Link

I like to "back up" my information. Here is the Outback Gluten Free Menu. Under "Alice Springs Chicken" you can see that it is served with a "Honey Mustard Sauce". On the far right hand side of the first page, bottom, in yellow writing, they list the two that are not gluten free, the "mustard vinaigrette" and the "bleu cheese". Two different things.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. MichaelDG
      - MichaelDG posted a topic in Board/Forum Technical Help
      0

      celiac.com support

      How do I contact someone at celiac.com concerning the cessation of my weekly e-newsletter? I had been receiving it regularly for years. When I tried to sign-up on the website, my email was not accepted. I tried again with a new email address and that was rejected as well. Thank you in advance!
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    5. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,327
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    dnamutant
    Newest Member
    dnamutant
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.