McDonalds and a school trip...

[azteccamera]

Truly wondering about this situation.

Long, hot day. School trip. Reception class so 4 & 5 year olds. Left at 8.30 this morning. Due back at 4pm. Finally arrived back at 6.45pm after the bus broke down on the way home. The school were communicating by text all the way through the afternoon keeping us updated.

We've just picked up the children to be told they have been fed... McDonalds. Personally, I don't mind, better that she is fed, watered and it was next to where they had broken down. Bear in mind they were waiting in a hot bus with no aircon for a replacement coach.

However other parents were shouting at the head teacher,for everyone to hear. Apparently no one ever feeds her children mcdonalds. They've never had it. Thinks it's a disgrace. Some of the dads were also agreeing.

Would you mind? Allergies and food intolerances and preferences accounted for, would you be angry enough to shout at the teachers about it?

You can just hear the conversation ... " Sorry Jocasta, but you can't have anything to eat or drink as some evil rogue meaty-atoms might have settled in the area ... "

I hope op managed to get hold of the card and flowers/wine

And that one of the teachers is on here and sees that 99% of people would be grateful and that includes those who hate the place.

That likely would have been their own money too.

What do the vegetarian parents WHO ARE FURIOUS want? Nobody to eat unless it's vegetarian? Now I may be cray-cray, but I suspect there wasn't a wealth of options on the side of the road. Well, there was probably grass on a verge, but most kids won't eat that. Especially after a few have had their loo break.

Giles - can't you read. I said I wouldn't shout. That was the first thing I said. What would be the point of shouting? It wouldn't change anything. And it's rude. And my kids, in that situation, would probably have eaten fruit packs if available but wouldn't have eaten anything else from mcdonalds. They wouldn't have wanted to. Apart from the philosophical issues with mcdonalds, cross contamination for a veggie child who has never had any meat might result in severely upset stomachs. And yes, to the post who wonders, of course we wouldn't want a meaty knife used on food we eat. Quite happy to forego that experience, thanks.

Apocalypse - I'd have been furious if my kids had been shepherded into mcdonalds. I don't have a problem with anyone who is happy to be there, going there. It's a free world. Clearly mcdonalds are very popular. Not, however, with most vegetarians.

Then what would you suggest? The staff/child ratio probably meant they couldn't go wandering round for alternatives when it sells vege burgers. And dragging 29 other children around wouldn't have been a suitable option either.

Apocalypse - I'd have been furious if my kids had been shepherded into mcdonalds

The teachers didn't do it for fun or profit, or to annoy vegetarians. You're big on complaints, but what would you have done?

I'd have had emergency rations. I always do, not so much because I'm vegan but because I was stuck on a road (well, a hill) overnight in the snow some years ago and I learned from the experience. My kids always have emergency rations too. McDonalds are rarely situated all by themselves on the roadside, there's normally a garage next to them and garages normally have shops (at least in the rural part of the country in which I live, they do). But from the OPs original post - there is no indication that McDonalds was the only option. Just that it was nearby. I suspect the teachers made a choice and chose McDonalds on the basis of convenience cost and popularity.

But, Apocalyose - I'm commenting on a thread. I'm not, in fact, 'big in complaints'. The OP asked a question and I answered it and I specifically said I wouldn't have been one of the shouty parents. I wouldn't have said a thing, actually, because there would be no point since it had already happened. Why have a go at me?

No restaurant that serves meat can guarantee no cross contamination but they'd just say yes because how are you going to prove otherwise? You've got much less risk somewhere like McDonald's than (eg) a local Italian.

I suspect the teachers made a choice and chose McDonalds on the basis of convenience cost and popularity

I should hope the bloody did. Given they were paying. Had 30+ children to deal with who would have been hot and bothered, tired and cranky, and needed feeding. I'd not have has any qualms about my child being the one who had a fruit bag and a packet of crisps thrown at her from the coffee stand due to lack of alternatives.

After all I can feed her properly when She gets home.

I love McDonalds because I know in a pinch I'll be able to find something to eat (coeliac) and at the moment I'm travelling a lot with work.

After processing food hygiene scores for a large area I'd also be far more confident that there would be no cross contamination in McDonald's than a lot of other establishments.

I'd have had emergency rations. I always do, not so much because I'm vegan but because I was stuck on a road (well, a hill) overnight in the snow some years ago and I learned from the experience

You have emergency rations for 30 kids on you at all times? That must be a logistical nightmare.

I'm not having a go at you, just baffled that you appear to see the actions of the teachers as an unreas

Unreasonable response to the situation that would make you furious.

Herc do you prevent your children going to people's houses where they eat meat just incase a ham contaminated knife is used?

I was a vegetarian child and when there was the occasional slip up ( vegie sausages being cooked in the same pan as meat sausages or accidentally eating real bolognese rather than the vegie option) I was fine, no tummy ache at all.

Contamination? Bollocks!

Quite a few parents of allergic children choose to feed them from McDonalds when the need arises exactly because they are good at knowing what is in their food (issues of quality aside) and instances of cross-contamination are low.

Much less chance of cross-contamination at McD than in most restaurants, or with most convenience products (eg pre-made sandwiches).

We have never been into a McDonalds since ds1 outgrew his dairy allergy but in this instance I think it was the sensible and humane thing to do.

This was a group of what? 30 small children. The bus broke down on a hot day.

So the teachers found somewhere that normally has clean toilets, air conditioning and can provide food for 30 children possibly plus adult meals in a few minutes.

Yes it is not the healthiest option. Yes they have some doubtful practices. But this was one unplanned meal. There may be some cross contamination, but it will be minimal if you stick to fries and fruit.

Herc don't be so insolent! Macdonalds do a veggie options. Right we will give you the same situation and see how you deal with 30+ hot tired and hungry kids needing the toilet. I am sure there wasn't a hummus emporium in sight!

its competitive I am such a wonderful parent crap I bet one complained and others jumped on the bandwagon to not be outdone

I am sure the children were not complaining

We had a veggie kid (7yo) round for lunch on Sunday. One of his Mums had kindly cooked a (delicious) beetroot tart to cater for his tastes. It was served up at the table, and he, rather embarrassingly, faux recoiled in horror from it.

You gotta feel a bit sorry for kids for whom widespread items are strictly verboten.

So Herc, you're basically telling us that you and your children only ever eat food prepared in a vegetarian kitchen. Bully for you, but what do you think the teachers should have done here? Procuring, storing and carrying emergency rations for 30 children on a day trip is unfeasible.

It will have been terribly upsetting for some parents to have lost their "my children have never set foot in macdonalds" badge.

Hopefully they'll learn to put this dreadful experience behind them.

My children have only ever been on a McDs to use the loo. I object to McDs on political & social as well as nutrition reasons. I've also met one of the two people who spent several years of their lives defended themselves against McDonalds in court, after McDonald's sent undercover spies into their peaceful pressure group (IIRC one of the spies even had a sexual relationship with one of the group, under false pretences, shocking behaviour).

So, I'm really, really not keen on them.

But, in an emergency situation, such as above, I'd be thanking the teachers for looking after my child. (IIRC, even the dad in the McDs case let his own son go to a children's party at McDs).

How short-sighted and ungrateful the shouty parents are, they should be ashamed of themselves.

This thread is hilarious and scary. I really am glad dome people have nothing more to stress about in their lives. You'd think their kids were offered crack cocaine. And as for some of the 'in agreement' posters, honestly where do you get the headspace or wherewithal to give this much of a shit? Why are you're kids so special that the teachers should trek around with 'emergency rations' for them because of eating habits which they have CHOSEN ie. Not allergy related etc.