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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think the vegetarian who was served and ate chicken by mistake in Nandos is overreacting?

362 replies

musicboxwoundbyakey · 30/12/2013 14:51

Sorry Mail link

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2531093/I-feel-like-not-body-anymore-Vegetarians-outrage-going-Nandos-served-chicken-mistake.html

She asked for grilled halloumi cheese pitta and was served chicken. Which she ate half and didn't realise as she was talking to her friend.

She tried to make herself sick and had to sent home from work the next day as she was so upset and feels her body is not her own anymore.

How you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between cheese and chicken is a little beyond me. The cheese would be gooey and runny and chicken would have chewy - and they both have completely difference tastes??

It doesn't mention this in the article but the server always comes over and says - "chicken burger with medium sauce" etc so surely they probably said chicken pitta to her too??

But maybe iabu because she has never had meat before for religious reasons.

OP posts:
figgypuddings · 30/12/2013 20:38

I always thought halloumi was one of the cheeses which was set with rennet?

PrincessFlirtyPants · 30/12/2013 20:40

Many vegetarians get an inquest as to where they get their protein, Vit B, calcium etc etc? funny how some people suddenly become nutritional experts once they're speaking to a vegetarian.

So, so true. This pisses me off so much!

ItsIgginningToLookALotLikeXmas · 30/12/2013 20:44

Figgy have just checked the fridge - it is set with rennet, but definitely non-animal rennet (well the one I bought is anyway)

ItsIgginningToLookALotLikeXmas · 30/12/2013 20:51

I care about animal welfare. I have eaten in Nandos, once. It is next to a train station in London and I was a stranger and tired and pregnant and hungry. I did not realise I was handing my vegetarianism in at the door!

I think the woman in question is right to be upset, but this has happened to me so often (mixing up veggie feast/meat feast pizza seems very common) that you have to learn to deal with it yourself. It is unreasonable to go to the DM full stop.

Rufustherednosedreindeer · 30/12/2013 20:54

Many vegetarians get an inquest as to where they get their protein, Vit B, calcium etc etc? funny how some people suddenly become nutritional experts once they're speaking to a vegetarian.

Or they start checking out what you are wearing, or asking if you eat

Rufustherednosedreindeer · 30/12/2013 20:55

Oh my godddddd!!!!!!!

Obviously I eat just not meat!!!!!

And I checked that as well!!!

Agree itsiginning

HappyShittyNewYear · 30/12/2013 21:26

She didn't sell her story to the DM, she spoke with a local regional paper which happens to be owned by the same group so the story was obviously passed on. I am sure that an issue that was only meant to be highlighted as an issue in her local area and which was due to the reaction of the company, rather than the incident itself, was not the intention and she was certainly not seeking this kind of attention, frankly some of the comments towards a person that people have never met and so have no clue of her character or personality are really quite childish, whether you agree with her or not.

DizzyZebra · 30/12/2013 22:37

Yanbu.

She INBU for feeling sick and angry.

She IBU for going to the papers, scoring a day off work off the back of it and for not going to the doctors if she can "feel it sitting in her stomach" as that is just ridiculous.

bruffin · 30/12/2013 22:50

There was a perfectly good reaction from the company, an appologies and vouchers. There was no need to go to papers at all. I havent even had a reply after 3 weeks from the Hilton who despite being told my by son that he was allergic to nuts, they still served him a plate full of cakes which clearly had nuts ie macaroons but told him there was no nuts in them. He didnt eat those but ate another which gave him a reaction. No apologies at all.

Blu · 30/12/2013 23:10

Considering some of the issues MNers have string reactions and long threads about, I think it is bloody patronizing and judgemental to start belittling someone's reaction to eating chicken if they have vegetarian and religious principles against it
Are the DM being unreasonable to turn this into news ? Of course. But then any excuse to belittle non mainstream views and feelings as held by an ethnic and religious minority . And this thread has collectively risen to the bait.

kmc1111 · 30/12/2013 23:12

Overcooked, oversalted chicken (which let's face it, is what you're gonna get at Nando's) could easily be mistaken for haloumi, especially if you've never actually tasted chicken before.

I feel very ill when I've mistakenly eaten meat. It's partly in my head, but I also tend to get a food poisoning type reaction to it. I don't think my digestive system knows how to deal with meat after decades of me not eating it. Decent chance she went home because she was actually physically ill, but she was too embarrassed to just say she had diarrhea or whatever.

ItsIgginningToLookALotLikeXmas · 30/12/2013 23:29

Bruffin that's awful.

BackOnlyBriefly · 30/12/2013 23:32

Don't see why people are so surprised that Nandos could make a mistake. Have none of you ever been given the wrong meal in a restaurant/cafe.

Normally you'd say "Hang on, mine was the ...." and they'd say "Sorry" and take it back.

Original poster
musicboxwoundbyakey · 31/12/2013 00:56

But then any excuse to belittle non mainstream views and feelings as held by an ethnic and religious minority

Oh for goodness sake, someone has already played the racist card and it won't wash here.

I appreciate every religion and love the opportunity to learn more. I'm lucky that I work with an extremely mixed group -Atheists, Muslims, Hindus etc which allows me to learn more about each one first hand.

I'm not saying this woman overreacted because she is Hindu. I can completely understand why she would have felt so sick and disgusted.

All I am saying is that her contacting the media and having a day off work is extreme regardless of her religion.

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 31/12/2013 15:03

Would the daily mail have paid her for story and photo?

lljkk · 31/12/2013 15:11

I wonder how much she was paid for the story. I suppose it's compensation of sorts.
this is about religion not vegetarianism.

scottishmummy · 31/12/2013 15:15

She legitimately upset.but I'm surprised she's in press with photo and personal detail of job

bruffin · 31/12/2013 15:53

on another forum someone has linked to her website and it appears she is also a wannabe glamour model. Maybe she is after some publicity.

scottishmummy · 31/12/2013 15:55

Well certainly it's unusual to court that much media attention,not the norm

Mignonette · 31/12/2013 16:01

Well surprise, surprise. Hmm

scottishmummy · 31/12/2013 16:04

So was this was used as an opportunity fir self promotion

Mignonette · 31/12/2013 16:16

It would appear so. And we've provided it.

scottishmummy · 31/12/2013 16:18

So opportunistic grab at media publicity.well I guess that figures seeing it daily mail she went to

Thants · 31/12/2013 16:57

When the exact same thing happened to my friend the refunded her meal, offered us both free desserts and drinks or anything else we wanted from the menu and have my friend vouchers for a meal for two. They didn't give this woman enough!

scottishmummy · 31/12/2013 17:03

Yes,more money!more vouchers!more media that'll hopefully lessen thus dreadful ordeal for this publicity shy woman