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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Coffe shop poisoned me

24 replies

coeliacsucks · 01/12/2021 20:02

Hi all

I'm a regular large coffee shop chain victim and ordered my usual when I found myself with time to kill in a different town, I order using the app. I ordered my drink and a gluten free snack.

Collected and ate my snack in my car on FaceTime with a friend. They ask when they made the counter snacks gluten free?

I hung up and called the store immediately to confirm the snack I had been supplied with was gluten free as ordered only to be told no a new colleague made an error!

So now I know I'm going to be ill and all they can do is say ' whoops'. They offered me free brownies (er no thanks) but I don't feel it's being taken seriously. If I had a nut allergy I could be dead!

I've spoken to the manager who asked what do I want to resolute situation.

Aibu to be annoyed and I haven't a clue 'what I want' other than to not have been poisoned in the first place. It literally changes my personality and I'm in pain alongside all the gastro stuff.

OP posts:
SelfHelpPlease · 01/12/2021 20:06

How did you not know the snack you ordered wasn't the snack that you received? Sorry I'm confused

ANameChangeAgain · 01/12/2021 20:07

Places still don't take intolerances seriously enough for my liking. When my dd was 10ish we bought her a "gluten free" brownie from a coffee shop before a long coastal walk. 20 minutes into the walk, on top of a hill my DD is in tears, stomach cramping, dizzy, sick. All I got was an oops from the coffee shop.

Honeyroar · 01/12/2021 20:09

It’s pretty poor. All staff should be trained to know allergen information for each product. But I’d have thought you’d check too if it makes you so ill. I hope you’re not suffering too much.
You have to decide what you want. They sound like they’ve apologised and offered you something as a sorry. If you don’t think they’re taking it seriously (and it’s not obvious why you think that) then you could report it if you think you it was a serious error.

Original poster
coeliacsucks · 01/12/2021 20:11

Sorry I should have been more specific I ordered a GF brownie a d was given a brownie but it was the normal version.

OP posts:
SweetBabyCheeses99 · 01/12/2021 20:11

It’s a tricky one. Genuine coeliacs probably know by now that they have to tell establishments that they have a genuine allergy. There are way too many people nowadays claiming “gluten intolerant” for “bloating” and it really dilutes the problem.

Honeyroar · 01/12/2021 20:11

@ANameChangeAgain

Places still don't take intolerances seriously enough for my liking. When my dd was 10ish we bought her a "gluten free" brownie from a coffee shop before a long coastal walk. 20 minutes into the walk, on top of a hill my DD is in tears, stomach cramping, dizzy, sick. All I got was an oops from the coffee shop.
Places should be taking it seriously-,every employee should have allergens training and establishments should have clear labelling as to what allergens are in packaged foods.
Original poster
coeliacsucks · 01/12/2021 20:12

@Honeyroar I don't feel the whoops sorry is taking it seriously at all. I'll be off work for days

OP posts:
CloudyStorms · 01/12/2021 20:12

@coeliacsucks

Sorry I should have been more specific I ordered a GF brownie a d was given a brownie but it was the normal version.
Was it in packet? Or not?
Tiredpregnantmess · 01/12/2021 20:13

Ah I feel your pain. I have Coeliac Disease and it's absolutely ridiculous the amount of places that don't understand they assume GF is a 'fad' because its not as well known as nut allergies. Hope your reaction isn't too bad :(

Original poster
coeliacsucks · 01/12/2021 20:13

No it was in a paper bag.

OP posts:
CloudyStorms · 01/12/2021 20:13

Then YANBU

SilkLabrador · 01/12/2021 20:14

I would write to head office.

I hate the way food problems aren't taken seriously. It has literally caused deaths in the past.

Eeyoresideyestigger · 01/12/2021 20:14

Yes they made a serious mistake

It's reportable to trading standards

And if you end up I'll as a result then you can ask them to recompense you and arrange training and better practice around allergies and gluten free products

underneaththeash · 01/12/2021 20:16

I have the opposite issue, I can't eat something in GF baking substitutes. I've been made unwell three times in the last 4 months, by normal flour being substituted by ultra-processed crap.

Again no apology.

I just double check now.

Eeyoresideyestigger · 01/12/2021 20:16

It sounds like manager acknowledges the mistake by asking you what resolution you'd like

I'd see how you are over next few days, email the manager to say impact and calculate lost wages or lost time & pain and give it a figure

Then I'd ask for that

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 01/12/2021 20:16

That is rubbish. They need to take responsibility for it... its not an Oops moment.

My Dad is Coeliac and the modern 'fade for it can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, people know what you mean. But they aren't clued up on the cross contamination and constant checking of everything side. And that it makes people serious ill.

Postdatedpandemic · 01/12/2021 20:18

I ordered dairy free and was given gluten free.
Honestly I never realised how much fun vomiting into a bush at the back of the town car park could be.
Lots of places don't take it seriously, some of us are ill short term, I always worry about the serious nut allergy people.
If you can't accommodate my request, just say, don't poison me.

LionPhish · 01/12/2021 20:20

Complain, go higher, insist on full allergy training for all staff.

This could have killed someone (including myself)

EllieLucy · 01/12/2021 20:21

[quote coeliacsucks]@Honeyroar I don't feel the whoops sorry is taking it seriously at all. I'll be off work for days [/quote]
I'd expect them to compensate you for lost wages and some extra for being ill, as a minimum. It's not ok to make mistakes like this.

ANameChangeAgain · 01/12/2021 20:23

It’s a tricky one. Genuine coeliacs probably know by now that they have to tell establishments that they have a genuine allergy. There are way too many people nowadays claiming “gluten intolerant” for “bloating” and it really dilutes the problem.
I don't agree with this, you don't have to be a "genuine coeliac" to suffer with problems caused by wheat. Two of my family members with conditions such as IBS, crohn's and colitis have flare ups with wheat. 70% of the time they can eat what they want, but when they have a flare up, wheat is the devil. You can't just say or imply that they are diluting the issue for genuine coeliacs, it isn't a competition.

LefttoherownDevizes · 01/12/2021 20:24

We went to Shake shack, declared DS' allergies and yet he was still given ice cream with peanuts in. Thankfully DD had the same and noticed the nuts and stopped him eating it.

Complained to the Council and head office, again only a whoops, not even a sorry really.

They should cover your sick pay, so sorry, must be awful waiting when you know what will happen

RedCarsGoFaster · 01/12/2021 20:28

Report to your council food hygiene team.

As for what you want, ask for the coffee shop legal team to contact you....

Unmerited · 01/12/2021 20:31

Pret a Manger got in a lot of trouble with allergen issues. Natasha’s law on labeling came about I believe as a result.

PanicPrevention · 01/12/2021 20:32

There is new stricter guidance around allergies and labelling, Natashas law, after the girl who died on the plane after eating a sandwich from pret.
I work in a restaurant and we have all been trained and are rebriefed on this weekly.
Big chains shouldnt be giving anything out in an unlabelled paper bag.

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