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Swiss Chalet (so Mad Right Now)

KristaleeJane

By KristaleeJane
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

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KristaleeJane Contributor
KristaleeJane
Posted

Hello all

Let me start by saying I was very impressed with the allergy guide at swiss chalet. Now I am in Canada but I am sure it is the same everywhere. I ate out there many times ordering the same thing everytime under the impression that what I was eating was gluten free. If you check out there allergy menu online, the only thing I was a litte concerned about was the fries, as they do not have dedicated fryers for them, and they do warn you about cross contamination. But the ribs which clearly state they are gluten free and wheat free ARE NOT!!!!!. I have been ordering them over a course of 6 mths, and everytime I told them the same thing, I have gluten allergy, please no bun on my plate.

So the last time I go into to order them, the manager comes out and says actually our ribs are all marinated in a flour based sauce, so they are not gluten free, I almost died, I said you have got to be kidding me. I said that I have ordered them multiple times and no one has ever brought this to my attention before. Why the hell do they say they are? Can you get them without the sauce at least? She responded with NO. I have never been so mad in my life. Why would the company be allowing people with celiac and other allergies be consuming this. Why was a being served this after telling staff I have a gluten allergy. Grrrrrrrrrr i am so upset so just venting a little here. I am in Canada so I have contacting the food regualtion People and they are investigating it now.

Now I know why I had all the classic symptoms, but I was thinking it was just from the fries that I ate with it.

This may not apply at every swiss chalet, but it did at this one so watch out everybody!!

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Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular
Fiddle-Faddle
Posted

I'd say the problem is not with the staff, but with the corporate office who designated the ribs as gluten-free on their allergy menu.

Kudos to the manager, who obviously instructed the staff to alert her if anyone ordered gluten-free, and saved you from getting sick.

If they have not yet changed their on-line information, I bet they will if you point out to them that someone is bound to get extremely sick and that Swiss Chalet will be liable because of their misinformation.

I know you're mad, but I'm glad you didn't get sick again!

Helena Contributor
Helena
Posted

I'd complain to head office for sure....also, you might want to contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. I'm pretty sure restaurants *can't* give out absolutely false info. like that, I contacted the CFIA once (because of a mislabelled product), and they investigated and issued a recall.

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

Swiss Chalet is owned by Open Original Shared Link, a Canadian company. Cara operate under several brand names, almost entirely in Canada. Other brands include Harvey's, Kelsey's, Montanta's and Milestone's. Most locations are franchises. There are three Open Original Shared Link outlets in the US.

Cara has been in operation since 1883 when they started out as a shipping company, quickly moving into catering. In Canada, they are the largest supplier of airline "food."

They have always been very open about allergens in their food, so I have trouble believing that this is an intentional misrepresentation, at least by Cara. Each franchisee is different (I operate a franchised business myself). They may be doing something outside the official box, or may be mistaken about ingredients.

Open Original Shared Link The ribs show soy, but no gluten. The fries are listed as gluten-free. At one time they were not, but there are no longer any breaded deep fried foods on the menu. Elimination of trans fats pushed them off the menu.

lorka150 Collaborator
lorka150
Posted
The ribs show soy, but no gluten. The fries are listed as gluten-free. At one time they were not, but there are no longer any breaded deep fried foods on the menu. Elimination of trans fats pushed them off the menu.

My mom eats there often. She doesn't order the fries, but they do have the * that indicates in the same fryer, and they do have breaded chicken.

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

I looked again, and there is still a CC advisory for the fries. The breaded chicken is gone from the menus at the locations near me (North Toronto and Markham). It may still be offered in other locations. Check your local menu carefully. Thanks, Laurie, for the clarification.

The ribs still show as gluten-free, without any cc advisory. I think they are okay, but you decide for yourself.

Juliebove Rising Star
Juliebove
Posted

The manager may have been confused or didn't really know what gluten was. I've found sometimes in the case of food allergies, they just don't want to serve you, lest you get sick or die or something and the blame can be pinned on them.

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babysteps Contributor
babysteps
Posted
The manager may have been confused or didn't really know what gluten was. I've found sometimes in the case of food allergies, they just don't want to serve you, lest you get sick or die or something and the blame can be pinned on them.

That is very possible.

Or perhaps this outlet used a non-corporate-approved marinade, or added flour to the corporate-approved marinade.

My rule is, even if I think a food 'should' be gluten-free, if a server or manager tells me it is not gluten-free, then I do not eat it. Better safe than sorry!

Now if they say 'you can't have that, it has rice' (this happens all the time!) then I say something like "actually, I can have rice but not rye - if it's just rice and not any wheat or barley or rye, then I can probably have it" and wait for a response & sometimes the triple-check.

KristaleeJane Contributor
KristaleeJane
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the responses!

I have contacted the canadian food regulations and they did an investigation, looks like the manager was mistaken. The investigator gave me the ingredients of the marinade and the BBq sauce, and it does sound fine. It appears the marinade looks alot like a flour marinade but it is actually a lot of spices and salt. Obviously He did not know what he was talking about. Unless they were adding to it on their own and then now are trying to cover it up, who knows.

As far as the fries go, I am sure it is different at every location, at the one close to me they also do sell breaded chicken fingers which are cooked in the same oil, and I did notice they do have cross contamination warning at the bottom of their allergy menu. Otherwise they would be fine. I have had the fries before, and I never got extremely sick or anything, but I won't take that risk again.

Again better safe than sorry but looks like it was misinformation on the manager's part.

thanks

KM

Helena Contributor
Helena
Posted

Good to hear that this worked out. Even though there wasn't a problem with gluten, helping to spread awareness about the importance of giving out accurate info. when it comes to ingredients is a good thing!

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