To want this stopped?!

[Notasperfectasallothermners]

Dd started secondary school in September. Loves it, really settled well - no worries regarding peers /work etc. However, had an issue with food tech last week where dd (vegi entire life) was given pre measured out ingredients to make biscuits, as dd didnt know what lard was she used it and brought the biscuits home. All dc sat and ate them, will admit they were nice! Until she mentioned lard and Googled it herself. Not a happy dd! Told her things happen and not to worry, not lovely to drop down in a heap this once sort of thing.
Rang the school to remind them she is vegi etc, mistakes happen - don't expect head on a platter etc...
Then yesterday she gets home, salad wrap for lunch, server wearing gloves to handle ingredients makes hers - after handling ham to the previous dc in the line! Rang school again, they will be speaking to the caterers today. Fed up.

It's not like she has an allergy to meat though? A few traces of ham won't do any harm, will they? I'm not trying to be goady, by the way. 😊

She's 11/12 and didn't know what lard was?!

Did she eat the ham?

She's vegetarian not allergic to meat. Fine to not want lard but OTT to make a fuss about meat cross contamination

Then yesterday she gets home, salad wrap for lunch, server wearing gloves to handle ingredients makes hers - after handling ham to the previous dc in the line!

FFS! Just make her sandwiches at home if you're going to be that fussy.

She didn’t eat the ham? Just salad that was handled with the same gloves that handled the ham?

Why did she eat the wrap if she saw the server handling ham if she was that upset by it?

I think either compromises need to be made or she takes in her own lunch where she can ensure no cross contamination can happen.

Yanbu, especially about the caterers. Anyone providing a food service should prevent things like that happening as a basic minimum standard.

Over reaction.

Get the response to cooking.... of course it should be veggie for her.

But the salad/ham wrap thing. Too far. Sorry

If she was vegi for religious reasons would touching it be OK? Her values should be respected regardless surely? And she is 12 and no didn't know what lard was. The school has many cultures there, not sure all the parents would be happy their dc had eaten food with ham on it!!

Im not vegetarian, but would never be so insulting as to suggest you or your DD are being fussy.

As a vegetarian I think YANBU. For example, if someone was to bring out a plate of sandwiches and half were salad and the other half ham, I wouldn’t eat the salad ones because they’ve been on the same plate as meat. I choose to not eat meat and that extends to not eating food that has touched meat, whether through handling cross contamination, or because somethings not been left on it. I completely get that a meat eater may find that excessive but I know a lot of other vegetarians who feel exactly the same way.

Is ther a snowflake emoticon?

Make a packed lunch instead of trying to get people into trouble and possibly sacked.

If she’s a serious veggie then I’m assuming you will have told her about gelatine in sweets etc? If not, maybe now is the time to sit her down and give her a list of common ingredients available on the shelves that aren’t veggie friendly so she knows for the future.

Regarding the caterers; I’d ensure she packs her own lunches in future.

I don't think you're being OTT. They should not be handling ham and then a vegetarian's food at all!

My exfil threw a pan at me once because I wouldn't eat a fried egg he had just fried bacon + sausages in!! Told me to make my own!!

Oh look. Another unoriginal 'snowflake' remark. Yawn.

She needs to learn to advocate for herself.

Don’t know what you’re cooking with? Ask, I’m case it’s not vegetarian.

Don’t like the handling of your wrap? Ask for another one.

Fgs massive over reaction. What next, her food can't even be near any meat? Cross contamination is a problem for people with allergies, that's it. You will be known as "that parent" if you continue with this. There was no ham on her food. Utterly ridiculous.

Other way around actually - if the school is aware that they have children with a. specific dietary requirements b. allergies and c. religious reasons for not eating meat etc - then YES they should absolutely be observing the very very basic and very very straightforward anti cross-contamination measures that even your average Subway seem to manage. New gloves. Not hard. And much easier and better to have a blanket policy of no cross-contamination than fussing over finding out in the queue who eats what and attending to them individually surely?

Holly - having principles doesn't make people snowflakes.
She does know about gelatine in sweets, but didn't know people still used lard and would never have thought to mention that tbh.

I disagree. I’d agree if she was in primary. She’s old enough to speak up if a mistake is made.

She’s going to be increasingly eating out with friends, at cafes etc etc, as she gets older. The school doesn’t have to fuss over the queue. She just needs to speak up before being asked!

Well if I go into subway and ask for tuna they ALWAYS ask me if I would like them to change gloves.

I don't think yabu

I'm afraid I agree that it's a bit ❄️ regarding the gloves.

plus what if she was allergic?? what if someone was generally allergic and the lady still touched the ham before hers?? Just because its a choice doesn't mean they dont have to cater to it especially when the next person in line might not just be a choice.

I've never in my life seen a biscuit recipe that uses lard, how bizarre.