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Wendy's Chili

conniebky

By conniebky
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

Recommended Posts

conniebky Collaborator
conniebky
Posted

:ph34r:

My daughter has friend that work/ed at Wendy's I absolutely love their chili.

They have all said, at one time or another, that the burgers that aren't sold that day or in a certain amount of time, are used as such: they take the top and bottom bun off, scrape all the condiments off and chop up the meat and make the chili with that meat.

Has anyone had a reaction to Wendy's chili?

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Looking for answers Contributor
Looking for answers
Posted

I personally don't eat at fast food restaurants because I just don't trust the workers and/or practices, having once worked in one during high school. Either way though, I never eat chili out because I find it to be one of the most riskiest foods, and soups as well. Flour is often used as a thickener.

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

Flour is not used a a thickener in Wendy's chili and if workers are recycling old burgers then they are violating Wendy's policies and probably some health laws. The chili is on their gluten-free list. Besides, I didn't think that Wendy's burgers were put on buns and condiments put on ahead of time.

richard

conniebky Collaborator
conniebky
Posted
  • Author

Flour is not used a a thickener in Wendy's chili and if workers are recycling old burgers then they are violating Wendy's policies and probably some health laws. The chili is on their gluten-free list. Besides, I didn't think that Wendy's burgers were put on buns and condiments put on ahead of time.

richard

I know, that's why I felt it important to post this information. It's not like we were all sitting around talking about gluten...these are teenagers just talking about their jobs. They do pre-dress the burgers at height times, like lunch.

I love Wendy's, and I love their chili and the other day when I stopped to get some, I remembered what these kids said so I skipped the chili and got a baked potato instead and it was wonderful.

I just felt it was important to share this information, that's all.

sunnybabi1986 Contributor
sunnybabi1986
Posted

I've eaten Wendy's chili numerous times without issue. I suspect that what you're talking about is an isolated incident. Something that these workers do at this restaurant only, maybe? I can't imagine that the rest of the workers at the rest of the chain do the same thing. At least, I sure hope not! :blink:

Of course, eating at restaurant that serves wheat products is always a bit of a risk. You never know if the workers are following protocol or not.

RideAllWays Enthusiast
RideAllWays
Posted

I've heard the same thing about the patties being taken off of the buns, but I mentioned it on here once and was told I was wrong haha. Chili is on their gluten-free list but it does say may contain wheat. I personally don't eat it but I have a Celiac friend (who does not react as badly as I do) and she eats it all the time. I've had it twice and felt awful both times.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

This would be against all health laws and Wendy's own policies. If you know for certain this is happening, you need to report it to your county health department restaurant division. I would also make sure you informed Wendy's headquarters. The food poisoning implications of this practice are immense. Please, Connie, report this to the health department for everyone's safety if the Wendys near you is doing this.

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Darissa Contributor
Darissa
Posted

My daugther, son and I flew into SLC last month late at night, and Wendy's was the only place still open that had a gluten free menu so we stopped and ate there. We both ordered the chili and were both sick that night and into the next morning. That was my first time ordering food from Wendy's since going gluten free. My son, who does not have celiac disease, also ate the chili and he was fine, so we figured it was CC with gluten. Not sure, but we both had our usual reaction that we have when we get gluten. We have not been back. It makes since that the meat could of been CC.

buffettbride Enthusiast
buffettbride
Posted

We've eaten Wendy's chili countless times and never had a problem. Many locations, many times. Never a problem.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

I've never had trouble at Wendy's. I like to get a small chili and a baked potato. I agree about calling corporate and the health department if that particular Wendy's is recycling burgers into the chili.

MRM Apprentice
MRM
Posted

the last time my kids and i had chili and a baked potato from Wendy's we all had stomach problems. i don't plan on eating there anytime in the near future.

modiddly16 Enthusiast
modiddly16
Posted

I think Chili from anywhere gives people stomach problems :blink:

I had a grilled chicken with tomato, lettuce and honey mustard sauce and I put it on a Against the Grain toasted roll......oh man did that hit the spot. I made my own Ore-Ida fries to go with it which were way better than the ones Wendy's has.

To each his own!

  • 2 weeks later...
brendygirl Community Regular
brendygirl
Posted

I've also had Wendy's Chili countless times and never reacted. My friend loved their chili so much, he'd buy it to make chili dogs at home with it.

I'm never surprised to see the people who don't eat fast food but do waste their time reading threads about it....

I personally travel a lot and am going on a 2 week road trip, so Wendy's has been a lifesaver many a time when I've been famished and just couldn't fathom another Lara bar or piece of fruit.

buffettbride Enthusiast
buffettbride
Posted

just couldn't fathom another Lara bar or piece of fruit.

Lara bars are cruel and unusual punishment. :o
kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Lara bars are cruel and unusual punishment. :o

I thought I was the only person who didn't like them.

modiddly16 Enthusiast
modiddly16
Posted

I thought I was the only person who didn't like them.

nope...they taste like you're eating sand with a mixture of dirt and grass :)

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

The only time I have eaten Wendy's chili since going gluten free I got sick from it. I thought it was the beans, since I still can't tolerate them. But I also checked the ingredients and found soy listed--so perhaps it was the soybean oil that made me ill. Either way I am avoiding Wendy's. I also got sick from a salad without any croutons or anything with wheat (I even used my own dressing). My only conclusion is that the workers that put together the salad had been handling buns all day and didn't change gloves before touching the lettuce. I might try a baked potato sometime if I'm traveling and Wendy's is my only option, but I would think that that could have the same cc problems as the salad.

  • 2 weeks later...
torimuse Rookie
torimuse
Posted

I first read this thread a couple days ago and asked friends of mine who used to work at Wendy's. It seems like this isn't a store-specific problem. They confirmed that it was commonplace to use the meat from unused burgers and add it to the chili. I don't think I'll be able to trust any fast food for a while, or at least not Wendy's.

sunnybabi1986 Contributor
sunnybabi1986
Posted

I first read this thread a couple days ago and asked friends of mine who used to work at Wendy's. It seems like this isn't a store-specific problem. They confirmed that it was commonplace to use the meat from unused burgers and add it to the chili. I don't think I'll be able to trust any fast food for a while, or at least not Wendy's.

That's disgusting, even if you don't have to worry about gluten contamination! Someone really needs to report this to the Health Department.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Didn't think I would get an answer but this is what I got:

Thank you for your interest in Wendy's!

jackay Enthusiast
jackay
Posted

My first meal that I didn't cook myself in over a year was Wendy's chili at Brainerd, MN. I told my husband I would risk it since it would be safe it there wasn't cc. As I was eating it, he asked me if it had beef in it. I tested severely intolerant to beef and my doctor wanted me to eliminate it for six months. It had been over five months since I gave it up. I didn't have any reaction so now am back to eating beef and boy is it good.

I will try Wendy's chili again in the future.

Frances03 Enthusiast
Frances03
Posted

I eat Wendy's chili. I asked 3 days ago about the meat from buns being tossed in the chili and I was assured that they do NOT do that, and I believe them. They all know me, I've been in there many times, and they know that neither I nor my son can have gluten. They throw away hamburgers that have been mis-made, they do not take the meat off the buns and throw it in the chili. Now, if I went to a Wendy's in another town, I would ask to speak to the manager, explain my condition, and ask him to be honest with me about whether this has been done at HIS restaurant. I dont believe that after someone realizes you have a medical condition that they would LIE to you about their practices. I guess anything is possible, but I have not lost ALL ability to trust people. I just decide based on the cirumstances at the time.

  • 1 year later...
lolololo Rookie
lolololo
Posted

I have had wendy's chili twice this week on two separate occasions at two separate wendy's locations and both times I have gotten a reaction. the reaction was mild though.

  • 1 month later...
caiticakes Newbie
caiticakes
Posted

I've never had any problem at a Wendy's- I've also never really liked chili, but I tried my mom's before without incident. She is more gluten sensitive than I am and she eats the chili all the time without a problem. From working in corporate restaurants I feel confident that if you talked to a manager and reiterated that it is an allergy and how severe CC can be, they would be relatively honest. The first thing that pops up in their mind is *lawsuit*, meaning that even if they don't want to admit that their store might occasionally put old meat in the chili, in order to protect you (and in turn protect themselves) they would say "there have been cross contamination problems before, so I wouldn't recommend it" or something along those lines. My friend is a manager at a corporate restaurant and any time there is any sort of incident there is always paperwork to fill out so they're usually careful about these things.

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