To ask would you complain / cross contamination of food?

[thoughtsonname]

Went for a meal earlier with DH.

I am vegan and haven’t eaten meat in 17 years. I had ordered a veggie chickpea and spinach burger at a popular chain. I lifted the burger bun lid before taking a bite (not sure why tbh) and lucky I did because there was a piece of chicken sitting on top of it.

I discreetly told the manager who swapped it for a new one. Didn’t apologise though and the new one came back without any of the toppings I’d originally ordered so was really bland. I couldn’t be bothered to send it back a second time and DH had already eaten all of his meal (he eats meat).

I’m in two minds about complaining as the place predominantly serves meat, but does promise to cook on a separate part of a grill. I wouldn’t even mind if it shared the same cooking space, I just don’t want an actual bit of chicken in my meal and it would’ve really
upset me if I had eaten it. It also ruined the dining experience because we ate at totally separate times, defeats the point of going out really.

WWYD?

YABU - leave it, they swapped it for a new one

YANBU - complain, it isn’t good enough and they should be more stringent

🤣🤣🤣 Clearly my autocorrect has had a tough day.

On the other hand if the child was vegan...

😁

I was prepared to say you're overreacting but actually you're not. Serving a vegan a bit of chicken which is hidden in a bun is well out of order.

I've heard kitchen staff I used to work with (different dept) say they hated vegans and would deliberately contaminate their food. I'm not sure how a mistake like this happens!

I'm vegan. I wouldn't complain again - you already have. But it sounds poor you didn't get toppings but you should have asked for them.
I think in eating out there's always an element of trust but if they are not switched on I wouldn't eat there again.

I wouldn't class that as cross contamination- they served you best. Cross contamination is when you have vegan food but it may have touched non vegan food or has been prepared on a tray/ in oil which has had non vegan food in ut.

Meat

I would say you need to raise it. Whilst eating meat would have horrified you, it would not have killed you (I say this as a veggie so not trying to undermine how awful it would be). However, if they are being that lax the next person could have a serious health risk.

I’d probably just not go back.

I don't eat meat and I would have been upset. It has happened to me before and I complained. Nothing much happened that I can remember but I think it is important to state how you feel about it and how unacceptable it is that it happened.

Also veggie!

Once at mc ds, when I was there for work (support worker) I actually Bit into a chicken wrap they had given me accidentally... I am the sort to complain, but couldn't cos I was being professional!

Another time, a £100 Thai take away order which was all veggie, we'd specifically removed the prawn crackers from the order cos of most of us being veggie... I found a prawn on my plate, after having eaten quite a bit 🤮... after a large complaint, the restaurant offered us a free take away next time! .... er, no we won't be ordering again!