How many of you complain after being glutened at restaurants?

[FionaGFG]

Have you had positive outcomes? Did you raise awareness of Coeliac Disease? Did the restaurant take your complaint seriously and implement new processes/ staff training? Do you now have a restaurant where you can eat out safely?

[Regalbirdy]

Hi Fiona, I have to admit that so far I haven't complained when I have been glutened. I do try to educate any restaurant I go to and I have always made it very clear in advance and on the day what are my needs are.

Part of this is that I cannot be bothered to ring them up and complain - I just don't eat there again, I vote with my feet instead. It might also be worth mentioning that wherever I can eat my friends/family will follow, so they don't only lose my custom - which is their loss! If they can't meet my needs after I've had such in detailed discussions with them, I don't feel it is worth the effort to educate them further.

However on a more positive note, I recently had an excellent meal in Worcester at an italian restaurant called Puccinis. They were so clued up it was unreal! They have a real understanding of special dietary needs and I know it is also a favourite with the local vegan community. They do not absolutely guarantee that the food is totally gluten-free due to the flour dust in the air in the kitchen but their standards are way above anything else I have come across so far. They say they have separate utensils, pans, areas in the kitchen etc. There is only one drawback - they are so popular so you have to book well in a advance to get a table. We were there for the early sitting on a Saturday night and we watched them turn so many people away who hadn't booked. Great place - would definitely go again and would recommend it to anyone else looking for a good safe night out.

[irish]

I was out for a meal at a local pub,told them in advance,I was coming.When I arrived was informed what was gluten free.I enjoyed a cajan chicken with a lovely sauce and the chips where cooked,in a separate fryer.The dessert came and I was offered banoffe mess(meringue sprung to mind) as I began to eat it I thought I could taste biscuits,gluten free I'm thinking.I ate more i started questioning the taste,and textures the chef had finished for the night and the lady at the bar wasn't sure. I asked if it would normally have biscuits she still wasn't sue.i explained that I would have a reaction,left my number and asked her to contact me( not sure about yourselves but after eating it whether its paranoia I began to get queasy.When I got home i drank lots of peppermint tea ,but had pains and wind most of the night.Foggy head in the morning.I emailed the pub and got a fast reply full of apologies sorry the head chef told me I shouldn't have been offered that dessert as it contains digestives and shortbread ! He said he would speak to the other chefs to ensure that this didn't happen again,I asked him to check out the coeliac. Uk website to give them information .He was very apologetic and told me to speak to him personally when I plan to return and will ensure that he himself will prepare my dessert.

[pretender]

A very good question, as being glutened does take time to show its ugly head (not an immediate IgE mediated reaction) the argument I would raise if I were the Restaurant/café owner is "Can you prove it was food you ate here?". This I would find the hardest to prove.

[TheReflexRoom]

Near enough every time I eat out - even I places that claim to be able to 'do gluten free'!!!!

[FionaGFG Administrator]

And what positive impact has complaining had..?

[Hidden]

I have complained and sent them info from the CUK website and usually get a very nice letter back. I rarely return to a place that has glutened me though..it sort of puts me off.

Recently I wrote to a coffee shop who had offered gf food but on closer questioning I found that they had only 1 toaster, and 1 tub of butter....so I wrote and I have been invited back for when their new chef arrives to help with their offerings in the gf line. I was very impressed with this.

My big bugbear is that for any company that wants to offer gf food and get certified is hugely expensive and most likely puts many smaller places off.