Cant Bring My Food / Was This Almost Discrimination?

[abigail]

hi evrybody !

I want to share something that happened to my family 2 weeks ago and ask you if sombody know if there its any law concerning this:

-we went on a family trip to Orlando. my son its celiac and so far our good experiencies are only related to Outback restaurants (the food its great but sometimes im tired of eating the same..),

ok, the thing its that for the first dinner night I carry with me a cooler with a container of Gluten free food, so the rest of the family could eat anywhere.

We choose IHOP, so i came and I asked the manager if they use microwave. So we can order the food there and we could worm the gluten-free food in my own container. I told him about my son " Allergies"

First at all he told me that no way we couldnt bring food from outside to the restaurant .

I FELT DISCRIMINATED :angry:

I told him I understand, but IHOP doesnt offer a gluten-free menu and the rest of us would order from the menu. And it wasnt fare and since he can offer me any safe choices for my son, what should I do, bla, bla , bla. Anyway I made a tantrum and they agree to let me in with my on's food.

the question is: Its there any law that says that we can carry our food even for places that dont offer gluten-free choices?

arent we allow to bring food to those places, like for exaple the places that dont allow dogs, but yes services dogs?

or should we stop going to regular places even if we can adapt carryng our foods because of that suppose law?

please let me know what you think

thanks, Abi

[Eriella]

I believe that because of the health code they cannot allow outside food-- no matter what. It is your choice to enter their establishment, and you knew you couldn't eat there.

Sorry

[janelyb]

I think they wouldn't have even noticed or said anything had you not asked to use the microwave. Shoot people bring babies food in without asking.....I personally have not yet had a problem either A) I didn't ask and brought it anyway or Called ahead of time and talked with the manager and they felt sympathic to our situation and said yes to outside food. I personally would not want to risk putting my food in their microwave. It was probably a food safety issue and they can't have outside food back in their kitchen.

Hopefully it doesn't happen again.

[BRUMI1968]

I've read on this forum that ADA (American Disabilities Act) covers celiac disease. This means that w/ a doctor's note, you can take your own food, for example, on airplanes, if the place does not offer celiac-friendly food. I do not know if this would apply to restaurants, but I assume it would. I also assume that in order to get your ADA rights, you'd have to have a copy of the law, and a note from your doctor. Not necessarily worth it -- but maybe in some instances, such as flying.

Good luck.

[Juliebove]

hi evrybody !

I want to share something that happened to my family 2 weeks ago and ask you if sombody know if there its any law concerning this:

-we went on a family trip to Orlando. my son its celiac and so far our good experiencies are only related to Outback restaurants (the food its great but sometimes im tired of eating the same..),

ok, the thing its that for the first dinner night I carry with me a cooler with a container of Gluten free food, so the rest of the family could eat anywhere.

We choose IHOP, so i came and I asked the manager if they use microwave. So we can order the food there and we could worm the gluten-free food in my own container. I told him about my son " Allergies"

First at all he told me that no way we couldnt bring food from outside to the restaurant .

I FELT DISCRIMINATED :angry:

I told him I understand, but IHOP doesnt offer a gluten-free menu and the rest of us would order from the menu. And it wasnt fare and since he can offer me any safe choices for my son, what should I do, bla, bla , bla. Anyway I made a tantrum and they agree to let me in with my on's food.

the question is: Its there any law that says that we can carry our food even for places that dont offer gluten-free choices?

arent we allow to bring food to those places, like for exaple the places that dont allow dogs, but yes services dogs?

or should we stop going to regular places even if we can adapt carryng our foods because of that suppose law?

please let me know what you think

thanks, Abi

I don't know the health laws where you are, but here in WA, you can not bring in outside food at all. It's against the law. Now some places have allowed it. Not any that I know of recently, but when I was a kid my parents used to bring in other food for me when we went out for pizza because I wouldn't eat pizza. And when my dad was on a diet and had a birthday party, we brought in a special milkshake for him at an ice cream place. The restaurants who allow this though are risking a big fine or having their doors closed.

I have noticed though that they never say anything about people who bring in baby food or bottles. Hmmm...

[debmidge]

What I am about to say is not because I am not wanting anyone to not have a good time, but I am just sharing what I know about the subject. No affront is intended and it's not intended to hurt anyone's sensitivities....it's being offered in charity and with the desire to share what I know about the topic.

I'm not a lawyer, just an insurance person and I can say that the restaurant probably cannot take the risk of sharing their equipment with you nor can allow you to use it yourself. According to insurance you are an "invitee" on their premises: you are only on their property to engage in commerce - despite the fact that you want to do a little of both.

The only duty they owe you is service "for pay" (they can't say, "Oh, were not going to sell you food because you have a health issue.") and bathrooms that conform to ADA. An airplane is a different matter as once they take off you cannot leave it to go to another "restaurant" as you are not on land. Airlines in a sense owe you the small duty of a gluten free meal or subsitute thereof because you are their "captive" for however long you're in their care. An airline is not primarily in business to sell food, but a restaurant is.

Additionally, from what I see at restaurants, they are barely set up for people in wheelchairs to enter on a ramp.

So we know that there's health laws involved and insurance risks that the restaurant cannot or maybe will not take. We have to also remember that especially in a resort area, many people can go in and claim to have food sensitivities and ask to eat their own food. I suppose the restaurant feels that if they allow one person to do that then they have to let all and they'll lose business. Perhaps a restaurant in your hometown would be more accomodating.

Also a chain has a fiduciary (money) duty to the parent company and has a contract with the "chain" and it could be against their contract as well. If they break the contract, they will be sued by the chain for breach.

As to babyfood, well that speaks for itself. Many milk bottles contain breastmilk and how are the restaurants going to argue against that? And babyfood, many restaurants cannot accomodate the feeding of babies (they don't provide babyfood) so in those instances you have to bring the baby's food into the restaurant. Again, the restaurant will not take the risk of mashing food up to feed a baby.

I am not sure that ADA falls under this situation ....part of ADA also states that with regard to disabled people the employer or establishment (and mostly this law was for employment of disabled people - somehow it morphed into this vague area) the place has to make "reasonable accomodation" unless they can prove that the accomodation change adversely affects their profits. I am sure that a restaurant can prove that outsiders bringing food in adversely affects their profits.

(I had to study this law when it was new for an insurance class ....I do have a copy of the condensed version of ADA but it's somewhere in my storage unit with my insurance school textbooks. But if you really feel that somehow you're rights were infringed, or you want more information, my advice is to ask a lawyer for legal opinion for your local, state and federal law and ADA law. )

[kabowman]

I know that we can't bring outside food in, I do it and don't tell the wait staff and don't request the microwave - I eat cold foods if I need to bring something and keep it to myself. Nobody has kicked me out yet.

[dally099]

i would have left and gone elsewhere as i have yet to have a problem, i would phone and talk to the head manager, as allergies are becoming more of a problem i think that resteraunts are going to have to look at changing their policies if they want people to contiue eating there. im really sorry that you had to go through that though.

[jkmunchkin]

I believe that because of the health code they cannot allow outside food-- no matter what. It is your choice to enter their establishment, and you knew you couldn't eat there.

Sorry

My family owns restaurants, and this is true.

To be honest, I would never expect a restaurant to let me do this. Clearly I understand the problems your son has eating out, but personally I am always able to find something just about anywhere I go. And if I am going with a group of people to a restaurant where I know they can't accomodate me (and it's inappropriate for me to suggest someplace else; ie: bachleorette party, birthday dinner, etc.) then I will just eat before hand and go for the company.

I think next time, if your family wants to go to a restaurant that does not have a gluten free menu, then simply explain the "allergies" to the server or manager and let them know what needs to be done to ensure your son has a safe meal.

[CarlaB]

you can take your own food, for example, on airplanes

I have never had trouble taking my food on airplanes. The only thing you can't take in is liquid, unless you buy it past the checkpoint. You don't even have to be sick to take food on an airplane.

I know that we can't bring outside food in, I do it and don't tell the wait staff and don't request the microwave - I eat cold foods if I need to bring something and keep it to myself. Nobody has kicked me out yet.

I've done this if we're traveling, but usually we try to go someplace I can eat. In a pinch, I'll pull a Lara bar or something out of my purse. This way the restaurant can plead ignorance.

if I am going with a group of people to a restaurant where I know they can't accomodate me (and it's inappropriate for me to suggest someplace else; ie: bachleorette party, birthday dinner, etc.) then I will just eat before hand and go for the company.

I've done this, too.

[Ursa Major]

I have gone to lots of restaurants (both fast food and regular) when doing long-distance driving to visit my kids. If I am by myself, I just bring my food, pull over, and eat wherever I am. If there are others, we go and order everybody else's food. If it's a fast food place, I'll get mine out when we sit down with the trays. If it's a regular restaurant, I don't bring out my food until everybody is served and the waiter has left.

Nobody has ever said anything. What are they going to do, kick all of us out? If they'd do that, we would refuse to pay for all the meals. They can't afford that, so they ignore me. But I wouldn't go so far as asking to use their microwave. At that point, they can't plead ignorance any more and have to throw their policies at you and refuse.

[gfgypsyqueen]

Eating out can be soooo hard....and Orlando can be really hard when you don't know your way around. The breakfast buffet places are everywhere and can be hard to eat at for Celiacs. Maybe next trip people can give you recommendations to specific restaurants that are more accomodating...Sorry you had such a hard trip regarding the food.

I spent many many many years working in restaurants. You are presuming that the microwave is clean... may restaurant microwaves get really dirty during service hours and are cleaned out during the down time. I wouldn't risk putting any food in a restaurant microwave. I also find upper scale restaurants are much better for food allergies.

Eating out is a choice and as a parent with kids who have anaphylactic allergies, we taking eating and accomodations very seriously. Just like most other people on this site. Many restaurants are simply not an option because they are not safe enough for one of our allergies. I don't know oof any restaurant that posts a gluten-free breakfast menu. Maybe they do exist?

I don't know the age of your child, but most restaurants serve breakfast foods that I can eat. I am the Celiac in our house. IHOP is particularly dangerous in my opinion. Mom and Pop restaurants tend to be very accomodating. Plain scrambled eggs or fried eggs are usually safe. Fresh fruit is usually safe.

What I have done in the past is brought with me: toast, muffins, donuts - but I always order food too. Even if it is just fruit and a drink.

If at all possible, get a microwave and fridge in your hotel room next time. Many are free when it is medically necessary - food allergies qualify.

I bring hot thermos and cold thermos with me on trips. They are small- a little bigger than a large soda can and fit in my bag. It helpswith transporting the food around. Leave the cooler in the car.

Also, be descrete about bringing food into restaurants, small container in a bag that requires nothing from the server. If needed, explain to the server that the child has a food allergy and can only eat ___ from the restaurant and it has to be prepared in a certain way. Order a drink and a side if possible. Plus, tip according to if that person had a meal like the rest of the table. Many servers are all about the tip and you brining in a full meal reduces the check size and reduces their tip size.

[abigail]

thank you all for your opinions! they benn very valuables to me!

ps: if anybody ever knows about a LAw that allow us to bring food into the restaurants (with a doctors note or something) please let me know!!

thanks again , Abi

[Rosewynde]

I've been told by a Entertainment Park before that if I had a note from a docter stating that I had to bring my own things then I could do so. If not then I had to do without or eat/drink what they had. Be worth asking your doctor about that. I've not done it yet myself.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

I think most restaurants don't mind you bringing your own food as long as you have contacted them before showing up and confirmed that they cannot safely accommodate you with their food, and made sure that it's okay with them if, because of that, you bring your own food

However, asking to use their microwave doesn't seem to be fair to them. You wouldn't go in and ask to cook food brought from home on their frying pans, would you?

Having said that, I gotta say that the chef at the local Bravo! restaurant told me that, even though he doesn't make gluten-free pizza, if I bring my own pizza dough in, he'd be happy to make it into a pizza for me.

[Guest lizajane]

hi evrybody !

I want to share something that happened to my family 2 weeks ago and ask you if sombody know if there its any law concerning this:

-we went on a family trip to Orlando. my son its celiac and so far our good experiencies are only related to Outback restaurants (the food its great but sometimes im tired of eating the same..),

ok, the thing its that for the first dinner night I carry with me a cooler with a container of Gluten free food, so the rest of the family could eat anywhere.

We choose IHOP, so i came and I asked the manager if they use microwave. So we can order the food there and we could worm the gluten-free food in my own container. I told him about my son " Allergies"

First at all he told me that no way we couldnt bring food from outside to the restaurant .

I FELT DISCRIMINATED :angry:

I told him I understand, but IHOP doesnt offer a gluten-free menu and the rest of us would order from the menu. And it wasnt fare and since he can offer me any safe choices for my son, what should I do, bla, bla , bla. Anyway I made a tantrum and they agree to let me in with my on's food.

the question is: Its there any law that says that we can carry our food even for places that dont offer gluten-free choices?

arent we allow to bring food to those places, like for exaple the places that dont allow dogs, but yes services dogs?

or should we stop going to regular places even if we can adapt carryng our foods because of that suppose law?

please let me know what you think

thanks, Abi

[Guest lizajane]

hi evrybody !

I want to share something that happened to my family 2 weeks ago and ask you if sombody know if there its any law concerning this:

-we went on a family trip to Orlando. my son its celiac and so far our good experiencies are only related to Outback restaurants (the food its great but sometimes im tired of eating the same..),

ok, the thing its that for the first dinner night I carry with me a cooler with a container of Gluten free food, so the rest of the family could eat anywhere.

We choose IHOP, so i came and I asked the manager if they use microwave. So we can order the food there and we could worm the gluten-free food in my own container. I told him about my son " Allergies"

First at all he told me that no way we couldnt bring food from outside to the restaurant .

I FELT DISCRIMINATED :angry:

I told him I understand, but IHOP doesnt offer a gluten-free menu and the rest of us would order from the menu. And it wasnt fare and since he can offer me any safe choices for my son, what should I do, bla, bla , bla. Anyway I made a tantrum and they agree to let me in with my on's food.

the question is: Its there any law that says that we can carry our food even for places that dont offer gluten-free choices?

arent we allow to bring food to those places, like for exaple the places that dont allow dogs, but yes services dogs?

or should we stop going to regular places even if we can adapt carryng our foods because of that suppose law?

please let me know what you think

thanks, Abi

[Guest lizajane]

I agree with the insurance person--I am a nurse, and have also owned a restaurant, and even though a few foods would be allowed ( Lactaid milk in its original carton) definately not all food would be allowed for obvious reasons. Lawsuits, other people bringing in their own food and the restaurant loosing money. It's hard, but you have to understand their side too.

[debmidge]

I know that we can't bring outside food in, I do it and don't tell the wait staff and don't request the microwave - I eat cold foods if I need to bring something and keep it to myself. Nobody has kicked me out yet.

That's sort of a "don't ask, don't tell" method which can work.

[debmidge]

I've been told by a Entertainment Park before that if I had a note from a docter stating that I had to bring my own things then I could do so. If not then I had to do without or eat/drink what they had. Be worth asking your doctor about that. I've not done it yet myself.

The difference between the Entertainment Park and the restaurant is that the purpose of the Park is to provide rides, games, entertainment and more often than not the food concessions are operated by independent contractors (not people who own the Park). The Entertainment Park wants as many bodies as possible in their park & they really don't care if people - in small numbers - are not eating at the concessions as they don't run the concession stands and they don't stand to lose any money. This is probably why they can appear to be so accomodating; but if the Park operators ran the food stands they'd probably not allow outside food in so nicely.

When I made plans for our anniversary party the caterering hall director was concerned that my husband was bringing in his own gluten-free bread and she asked me how much bread and how many people were going to partake of it. When I told her it was just him, she was Ok with that and wrote it in the contract that it was just for him alone and I had to sign that contract. So whether it's just money or money and liability there's certainly some concern on restaurant's parts on this topic.

If a restaurant feels it cannot do a good job in providing gluten-free food then it's not a good idea to force yourself on them and demand that they serve you. It's not going to help your cause to appear to be a nuisance to them. Contacting their headquarters and suggesting gluten-free menus is the best road to take (in my opinion) or contacting the restaurant association (I did that and never got a response). I don't believe that there's a law on the books anywhere that a restaurant has to supply food to someone with allergies or intolerances; if anything, the law might give the restaurant more of a right to be allowed to back off from supplying food, etc. to those with allergies or intolerances.

Somtimes in life there are "battles" that can't be fought like regular "battles" and you have to take a softer approach, especially when it's more for your benefit than the other person's. This takes diplomacy, strategy and patience.

[2Boys4Me]

I think most restaurants don't mind you bringing your own food as long as you have contacted them before showing up and confirmed that they cannot safely accommodate you with their food, and made sure that it's okay with them if, because of that, you bring your own food

However, asking to use their microwave doesn't seem to be fair to them. You wouldn't go in and ask to cook food brought from home on their frying pans, would you?

Having said that, I gotta say that the chef at the local Bravo! restaurant told me that, even though he doesn't make gluten-free pizza, if I bring my own pizza dough in, he'd be happy to make it into a pizza for me.

Good point made in italics above. A couple of times we have been in a situation where there was a party for the hockey team, or a birthday party or whatever and it was taking place at a pizza place. The first time, with the hockey team, I called the manager of the Boston Pizza, explained that we were part of a large group coming in on whatever date, my son has celiac, you probably don't have anything he can eat on your menu, do you? All right, is it okay with you if we pick up something at The Mongolie Grill next door and eat it with the team? Great. Then the day of the event we double checked with the manager on duty, got our meal next door and ate with the team. The other time was a laser tag birthday party, I called the laser tag place and asked if we could use the microwave if we provided a pizza, or should he just bring something to eat cold. She said he could use the microwave. We double checked when we got there that it was still okay, we provided a plate AND waxed paper to put the plate on and cover the pizza during reheating.

On Monday, Ty is going to Chuck E. Cheese for a birthday party. I have already arranged with the manager that we will provide Ty with a pizza on a baking sheet, wrapped in foil, and they will run it through the oven. They said they were worried about it burning so I said we'd risk it. I told Ty that we'd send something else in case the pizza burned so either he could choose not to eat or eat his standby meal. We'll see how it goes on Monday.

Communication is key. Ask them politely and explain why it is necessary for you to bring your own meal. Then when you get there, confirm with the manager. If he/she denies you your own meal then the whole group of you walks away and they lose business. I also agree with Fiddle-Faddle's comment about showing up with your food and asking them to cook it in their pans. And, as with Fiddle's restaurant, our local Italian place says we can bring our own noodles and they'll cook them. (They use Asian rice noodles, not Tinky.)