Me vs Costa...

[ImAMarshmellow]

Went to a shopping centre this morning with ds. Wanted to stop for a coffee mid morning so went into one of the 2 costas in the retail park.
Ds is intolerant to soya, dairy and eggs, which means he essentially can't have anything that Costa sell. (Bread contains soya, crumpets have eggs in and cakes are self explanatory. They also prepare stuff in the same area, so cross contamination is highly possible) I don't want him eating a bag of salt and vinegar crisps, so I normally take a bag of Ella's puffs snacks or similar. (He's 15 months).
Bought myself a coffee and cake and sat down with ds and his snack. He's happily chomping through his snack and an employee brought my drink over and asked if I had bought the snack ds was eating from there... I explained not and that he can't eat anything from there because as far as I am aware most of the foods are unsuitable for his dietary needs. She basically asked me to either leave or put the snacks away.
So was I wrong for bringing my own snacks or was I being reasonable since he really can't eat anything from there?
The only other 2 places to eat within that retail park would have been the same I.e they sell cakes/snack style foods.

They sell fruit.

brasty agreed. Sometimes I get secondhand embarrassment just watching people do this.

When it's because of allergies it only takes a moment to ask permission first, and then staff are usually very supportive. I have never had a refusal, when I've asked first.

isn't it true though that its not that there is nothing there he can eat, its that OP preferred him to have something else?
As she said herself in the op, he could have had crisps but she prefers the rip off and still crisps Ella things. He could have had a banana, or the mince pie or cake mentioned.

I still don't think she is wrong, but its more about preference than need.

YNBU it's not like you sat there without buying ANYTHING.

Just for future reference always ask when ordering. They always say it is fine. Jf they don't cancel your order and never go back.

My DS has nut and seed allergies and even fast food places have never said no to us.

curryforbreakfast DS is Lactose Intolerant. I was quite suprised to learn that dairy is to be found in some crisps. So not necessarily. Furthermore, I remember having to get the DCs a drink from somewhere 'on the hop' when an appointment overan and they were thirsty (was a heatwave they'd already guzzled what we had). £1.75 for the most fartingest of bottles of Ribena fruit shoot I'd ever bought. I can imagine how much the crisps would have been!

I take DC in to costa (or other coffee chain) all the time and buy myself a drink/food and then feed DC home made or shop bought food/snacks.

It's a bit over the top for a 15 month old. It's the people who get out their packed lunches and eat them along with a coffee that have caused this whole issue though.

You were just unlucky. Most places are reasonable about this.

curryforbreakfast DS is Lactose Intolerant. I was quite suprised to learn that dairy is to be found in some crisps. So not necessarily

so is mine. But OP said her in her op "I don't want him eating a bag of salt and vinegar crisps, so I normally take a bag of Ella's puffs snacks or similar" which says to me that she knows he could eat the crisps they serve there if she wanted him to.

"As long as they are not taking up a seat of a paying customer..."

Her baby and toddler would still be there even if they weren't eating their own snacks.

I remember working for Costa. It was 10+ years ago so may not be the same now but I remember not having very much choice about anything. It was very much a 'computer says no' where if you tried to exercise common sense rather than go with protocol you'd pretty much be disciplined. With that in mind she may not have had much choice about asking you not to eat outside snacks.

They are a barista, not a police officer.

I would have said okay and carried on feeding my child.

Our local Costa have given me a cup of hot water to heat the baby's food. And she had her own water from our own tap at home. Although she was in a high chair so potentially taking the seat of a paying (baby) customer eating a slice of gluten and lactose free Christmas cake or a bag of salt and vinegar crisps.

They are a barista, not a police officer.

Yeah, but the OP was in their gaff, not their own. It would have been polite to ask.

Another reason I don't use Costa, profit driven.

YANBU. I had similar with ds1 when he was little. I used to just smile and say "yes fine. Please bring me something with no dairy or nuts or traces of either in it please". And they never could so he'd get on with his bag of pom bears.

Another reason I don't use Costa, profit driven.

Of course it's profit-driven. It's a business.

Ordinary crisps are quite saltly for a little one. And hardly any normal crisps come without the "may contain traces of..." warning.

My son is 18m and has a dairy allergy, it's easier now he's eating more than pombears and bread but for a long time I'd have to take a pack up for him if we went out. I've never being spoken to about it. I'm not sure what I'd say to be honest, probably stutter, make a shambles of my defence then leave! If you're buying food and a drink I don't see the issue.

Are you doing blw? That can cause a mess which maybe the staff didn't want to clean up? Or maybe she was just having a shit day.

Yeah, but the OP was in their gaff, not their own. It would have been polite to ask.

But it’s not the barista’s own business is it? It’s a huge billion pound coffee store chain. I have worked in customer service roles and rather than enrage customers I would turn a blind eye to things. As long as it’s not endangering anybody does it really matter?

Some astounding ignorance on this thread. People really don't get how bloody hard it is when you have a child with intolerances. A year ago dd and Ds2 couldn't have dairy or soya (ruling out intolerances) and it was a right pita! I remember trying to get them something to eat once while in a rush and there was literally nothing between 3 available places. Nobody wants to look it up so they just say they aren't sure and it leaves you fucked which when your kids are tiny does not bloody help.
They are now wheat free and will be for the foreseeable. That's equally as fun!

Another reason I don't use Costa, profit driven.

Really

That's generally the idea of running a business. Do you avoid using all businesses or does your annoyance only extend to coffee shops

Anyway, as has been pointed out many times, this is the opinion of ONE person, not reflective overall of Costa.

I read this as your DS being 15 years old and I was shocked you were feeding him Ella's kitchen!!

Of course you were correct. Just demand a refund for what you’ve ordered next time. They’ll soon shut up.

I find it annoying to go to restaurants with my 2yr old for the reason that if you order from the kids menu then it’s often unhealthy and a huge portion. In the future she’ll be getting something from my plate.