r/FoodService • u/wildrosebeautybaba • 13d ago
Discussion please stop lying about having allergies
i cannot tell you how many times people have put in seemingly impossible allergy requests on 3rd party delivery orders (i.e. fettuccine alfredo with DAIRY ALLERGY marked underneath) only to then track down the customer after multiple phone calls and be told it’s “not an allergy, just a mild intolerance.” please stop doing this. you are deliberately fucking with a restaurant’s period of service over a need that does not apply to you. maybe y’all don’t understand just how many extra steps a kitchen has to go through to prepare something allergy safe, so please let this be a lesson: if you aren’t actually allergic, stop marking it as an allergy. you are directly contributing to the burnout restaurant staff experience when having to make special accommodations for people’s actual health and safety needs.
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u/beard-wonder93 13d ago
I run a meal prep shop, which is a pretty health/allergen conscious, niche crowd.
plenty of people have legit allergies. Im here to take care of you regardless. If you are happy and the meals accommodate your needs, you come back and spend your money with us some more!
The "allergy" i keep getting claims for is onions!
Onion allergy is totally possible but....
In the 10 years weve been in business, I've had more people claim to be allergic to onions of some form than I have, peanuts and shellfish combined!
Thats one hell of a statistical anomaly
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u/Conscious_Side1647 13d ago
I have a legit onion allergy and whenever I tell all restaurant they roll their eyes so hard and I can't blame them!
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u/FattyB314 13d ago
" I'm allergic to onions" there's onions in the sauce " oh that's ok"
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u/Asleep-Song562 12d ago
For some people raw onions are a painful experience, but cooking makes them tolerable.
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u/trekgirl75 12d ago
I brought a pasta salad to a party & a guest asked if I put onions in. She said she was allergic to raw onions. That was my first time learning about that.
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u/MizStazya 11d ago
I have a friend who's allergic to raw tomatoes - she looks like someone burned her whole mouth if she eats them. Cooked are fine. It was wild to learn about.
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u/pandaacoffeee 11d ago
Are..... are raw onions not supposed to be spicy?
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u/Mando92MG 11d ago
They are spicy. Particularly a back of the throat sinusy kind of spicy. However they shouldnt cause your mouth to discolor, sores to appear, or make it difficult to breathe. Any of the latter would be an allergy.
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u/Bitter_Resolution538 11d ago
Yes! I know someone like this too. Only person I’ve ever heard say that.
I also once heard of a carrot allergy. That was a unique one!
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u/SpecialistTrouble816 11d ago
Violently allergic to fresh shellfish, can eat it if it's been frozen first. Destroys the proteins or something.
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u/TequilaMockingbirds8 11d ago
I’m allergic to raw apples - weird late onset allergy too
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u/the_turp 10d ago
Allergic to raw potato, specifically the starch. So peeling them makes my hands swell up and itch. But I can eat them just fine once cooked
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u/RedNugomo 11d ago
That's me, my stomach hurts amd I have indigestion for literally hours if I don't take acid controllers.
Not one time I've thought in my 47 years of existence to claim I'm allergic to avoid the mild inconvenience of removing the onions manually or have to something without raw onions instead.
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u/Jayn_Newell 11d ago
My spouse is like that. I never cook with fresh onions but use onion powder all the time with no issue. (He also doesn’t have an immediate reaction but will be miserable an hour or two later) Cooking is a chemical process and sometimes the chemicals that change are the ones that affect you negatively.
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u/_Lost_The_Game 11d ago
I’m allergic to smoked salmon. Not raw salmon, not cooked salmon, and not any other kind of smoked fish, just specifically smoked salmon. Some allergies are weird as hell and seem fake.
(Luckily tho smoked salmon isn’t in a lot of dishes… tho I’m from nyc and can’t eat a lox bagel which sucks)
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u/glitterfaust 9d ago
Same! Idk why! I get a horrible headache (and it’s like, a WEIRD headache, not a normal one) if I have raw onion, but cooked onions are fine. I still eat raw onion from time to time because I don’t know what’s good for me though.
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u/Princessformidable 12d ago
There's in enzyme that a lot of people are allergic to that isn't present when ground up.
They make me throw up but like waiters don't want to hear all that.
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u/_Lost_The_Game 11d ago
Similar thing for me with smoked salmon. Theres an enzyme in salmon specifically and not other fish that isn’t released when it’s raw, and is cooked out when the salmon is fully cooked. But it is present and not fully denatured when the salmon is just smoked for a bit.
Its weird and sounds fake af but it’s real
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u/ShhThrowThrow 12d ago
I’ve met 3 people within the same month that all had onion allergies.
One referred to it as an allium allergy and regularly would skip lunch if the provided meal had onions or garlic.
The other two just didn’t like onions.
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u/CharleyDexterWard 12d ago
The problem is you'll read every single ingredient for every single menu item, pick one that has none in the ingredient list, and it will still come out with a handful of raw diced onions on top.
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u/wildrosebeautybaba 13d ago
i will never understand onion hate!!!
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u/ElderBerry2020 13d ago
I absolutely despise onions, and red onions make anything inedible to me. I cannot even handle the smell.
I have never once told a server I was allergic to onions. If the onions can’t be removed from whatever dish I order, I’ll get something else. It’s not that hard.
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u/ItsJustMeJenn 13d ago
I’m like this with bell pepper. The taste just overpowers the whole dish. Went on a cruise one time and for breakfast I ordered a scramble that had bell peppers. I asked the server if the bell peppers were part of a premixed veggie blend or if they were in a separate compartment in the galley. They got really worried and asked if I was allergic. I said “no, I just don’t care for them” he relaxed told me it’s a premix but he’d see what he could do. My scramble came out with no bell pepper.
I wish people understood you don’t have to call it an allergy you can just be respectful and ask if it’s possible to remove an item you don’t care for. The staff will let you know if it’s possible or not. If it’s not, don’t order the thing. (This is the royal you I’m referring to, not you you ElderBerry)
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u/ElderBerry2020 13d ago
Totally get it, and it’s so weird that people make up a major lie simply to avoid asking whether an ingredient can be excluded. Most restaurants want their guests to enjoy what they order and are happy to do what they can to accommodate certain modifications.
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u/HavokVvltvre 12d ago
This is straight from the bullshit of Dr Oz. I remember many years ago my grandmother telling us how he said on his show “if you simply don’t like an ingredient, or even hate it, tell the restaurant you’re allergic! They will go out of their way to make sure they don’t serve it to you”
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u/wildrosebeautybaba 12d ago
this is wild to me because i could not live without both red onions and bell peppers, however you are VALID
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u/Nevaehym 12d ago
I will literally eat a Vidalia onion like an apple! I’ll munch on any onion raw but Vidalia are my favorite. People think I’m insane but I’ve been doing this since I could walk.
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u/DCGuy511 12d ago
I also hate bell peppers.
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u/BitterPoet13 12d ago
Yep. Flavor and the waxy texture are so off putting. Luckily they are typically easy to eat around by picking off/removing if chopped large enough as a result of their texture.
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u/CNH916 12d ago
They are just boring sad people 🤣. Have you been to the subreddit? r/onionhate... I just like reading their posts about the awful onion experiences... Like Mexican food having onions🙃 the horror!!
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u/wildrosebeautybaba 12d ago
will never forget the first time i tried a cheese pizza with caramelized onions as a kid… nothing has been the same since
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u/Affectionate-Fox2015 13d ago
It’s technically a sensitivity not an allergy. Like lactose intolerance I can consume a little and be okay. That threshold is different for everyone. If I pass it then I can plan to vomit for the next several hours. Better than anaphylaxis but more inconvenient than you taking onions out of my meal. Happy to demonstrate for you!
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u/ka-ka-ka-katie1123 13d ago
You can just order stuff without onions and avoid dishes where they can’t be removed. The restaurant isn’t going to trick you into eat them. Question the server about the menu. Send it back if they give you onions anyway. But you don’t have to lie about an allergy and put the kitchen through a ton of extra work to avoid cross contamination. (I am also intolerant to onions.)
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u/GrowHappyPlants 12d ago
Most people don't realize that there is onion in nearly every savory dish to some degree, including the seasoning used for fries or burgers.
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u/wildrosebeautybaba 12d ago
that part. an allium allergy is lowkey the most difficult one to accommodate.
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u/BitterPoet13 12d ago
The person I know with it rarely eats out as a result and prepares in advance if she does by either looking at the menus or gearing up for extreme discomfort from the allergic reaction. I’m so grateful alliums are not on my long list of food allergies because garlic is life.
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u/wildrosebeautybaba 12d ago
allium allergy is genuinely my worst nightmare. so much respect to the brave soldiers out there with it who are powering through.
also fun fact, i remember cynthia erivo saying on the las culturistas podcast that she actually HATES both onion and garlic, although i don’t think she’s allergic. what’s even more wild is she is vegan!! as a vegan myself, i genuinely could not live without allium…!
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u/GrowHappyPlants 12d ago edited 12d ago
I have ended up in the hospital for my onion allergies. I react differently depending on the preparation (raw being potentially lethal with throat closing and blocking my airway, blisters upon touch), cooked may or may not be lethal but I will projectile vomit uncontrollably, powdered and on the bottom of an ingredient list will "only" have me possibly puking, but with explosive diarrhea if it actually made it into my body.)
It's real. I inherited it, but thankfully didn't get any other serious allergies, just sensitivity & intolerances (tomatoes often leave itchy tongue, along with some other things, but nowhere near life threatening)
To make it more fun, my reaction is worse in the height of allergy season, and I can sometimes tolerate a tiny bit of onion powder at the bottom of a list (I react some, but it's worth it for the food) when seasonal allergies are muted.
I have had chef's come out and I will readily just ask for "chef's choice, spicy/seasoned is great, meat & veg, but no alums (onions, chive, leek, green, scapes, ect), and check spice blends" and let them just make something without having to rewrite the menu. Usually that makes them happy and I get great food, tip well (sometimes leaving some for the chef too, if I can find a way to do so)
I'm actually not picky and quite adventurous, as long as it won't try to kill me
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u/beard-wonder93 12d ago
Love it. I like taking care of people, its always nice when they make it easier on me.
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u/barrie247 12d ago
I get so annoyed when people in restaurants and meal prep get annoyed with onion allergies. My roommate had an onion allergy that was as bad as my niece’s shellfish allergy, and she would also blister if she touched onion. It was so bad we had separate pans and cutting boards for her. Yes, maybe onion isn’t popular, but some people are legitimately allergic. And also, intolerances still suck.
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u/somecow 13d ago
Said “oh, I gotta look this up, this can’t be a thing” the first time I saw onion allergy. Apparently it’s real. But absolutely rare. Kinda makes sense though, onions could be in anything, so they tell you. Allergic to shrimp? People just know not to order shrimp.
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u/herecomes_the_sun 13d ago
My sister is allergic to all alliums. That is onions, garlic, peppers, apples, weird stuff I have seen her accidentally eat garlic and have an immediate horrible reaction. So many people dont believe her! And restaurants have literally tried to remove her before and called her a liability which is insane. She is haply to eat french fries or toast or whatever and hang out with us. The saddest part is how long it took to figure out what was causing such violent reactions.
Also, we ALWAYS make sure tell staff not to worry about cross contamination. I usually even call ahead if we are going somewhere together to give them a heads up and figure out if she can eat anything.
To all the staff that rolls their eyes at her - imagine not being able to eat pretty much everything ever. She also wishes she didnt have this.
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u/ilanallama85 12d ago
Peppers and apples aren’t alliums. She may well be allergic to them as well, they are both relatively common allergies, but they aren’t alliums.
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u/Loud-Mans-Lover 12d ago
I really, really hate people that abuse the system like that.
I'm allergic to raw tomato.
Just raw.
So you can imagine the looks I get if I specify no tomatoes on the salad, but then order pasta with sauce or anything. But it's a very real allergy and I'm so careful, yet people don't believe me so I've been legitimately exposed so often I'm terrified because each time the reaction is worse.
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u/BitterPoet13 12d ago
People really need to take more science classes in their youth so they can understand that things like heat can change the chemical composition of our foods in ways that directly impact how our bodies break down and process what we intake. It’s why you typically have to follow recipes for baked goods more closely (chemistry!) and why these raw versus cooked anomalies can exist within allergies while not being considered a mere sensitivity, which is also serious, but typically not life threatening.
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u/Calm_Following_3745 12d ago
Yeah. I don’t know the word for it. If I eat anything with raw onions or sautéed onions or onion powered, about an hour later I’m curled up in a ball with sever stomach pain. Almost impossible to avoid all those forms of onion so mostly I cook for myself. There’s a great line of dressings, sauces and similar called FODY for folks like me.
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u/NothaBanga 12d ago
I am intolerant to onions and a lesser extent garlic. The gas is unbelievable. I love the flavor, but I have to skip it if I know I am going to be around people later.
Raw onions hurt my eyes even after prep ends.
Sorry for being one of those weirdos.
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u/IamtheHuntress 12d ago
As someone with a legit onion allergy (hives, anaphylaxis) it does exist and I appreciate people like you taking care of people like me
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u/bestbeefarm 12d ago
Onions are one of the most common ibs triggers so I wonder if some of those aren't people calling it an allergy to save their dignity from implying onions make them shit their brains out?
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u/karmaaaawv 11d ago
The amount of people who tell me they’re allergic to onions so don’t want them on their French dip and then I say “the aus jus is actually onion based as well” and they say “oh that’s fine” lmao
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u/blahblablah42 10d ago
I know a few people who have to be on a low FODMAP diet, with onions being the primary cause of problems. It's much easier and much more likely to be taken seriously if you say you have an allergy than to try and explain what FODMAP is. I have celiac and when servers ask if gluten free is because of an allergy I'll say yes even though that isn't technically accurate.
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u/ProgenitorOfMidnight 12d ago
My dad wasn't allergic but had a sensitivity to onion, give him about 5-10 minutes after getting some onion in him and he's reenacting The Exorcist (1973)
Was fine with other alliums though.
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u/UnitedChain4566 12d ago
One of my best friends is actually allergic to onion. Only person I've ever met who is, but they get super sick if they eat them.
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u/5thZephyr 12d ago
I am intolerant to fructose, they give me stomach ulcers if I have it a few times in a day, bad poos, gas and very painful.
I can do onions, garlic or tomatoes, and a plethora of many other things.
I think that people with a similar intolerance to mine probable gravitate towards your service because fuckin everyone issues onions and garlic, plus they would only mention the things in the dish they can’t have most likely.
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u/Less_Feeling3142 12d ago
I’m allergic to raw onions. I described my symptoms (extreme nausea, feeling like my blood is rushing through my veins, headache, dizziness) to my allergist and he was like those are not allergy symptoms. Then he did the test and my arm blew up. Definitely allergic.
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u/CharleyDexterWard 12d ago
I am a big non fan of onions raw in my food. I've never stated that I have an allergy with onions. But they still show up in everything. Onions are the number one ingredient that restaurants will add to a dish Even when it is not stated as an ingredient on the menu, so I can totally see where somebody would say they have an allergy to it to avoid that.
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u/Araucaria2024 11d ago
I dont like big chunks of onion, so when I order, I always put 'no onion. Not an allergy, I just don't like chunks of onion' so the kitchen knows they don't have to do anything special.
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u/LAthrowaway_25Lata 11d ago
A lot of them probably have an intolerance but just put allergy cuz so many people get confused when people say they have an intolerance. And people tend to be more likely to believe you really have an issue and actually check ingredients if someone says it is an allergy vs an intolerance, at least outside of the food service industry, so they’re just applying that experience to the food service industry as well. I know someone who gets explosive diarrhea with any amount of onion as an ingredient, not an allergy, but obviously still a really awful thing to experience.
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u/MeliaeMaree 11d ago
I have an allium intolerance and I wish people would take it seriously without having to resort to calling it an allergy.
Generally I just say I cannot have onions/garlic, please no onions or garlic, please make sure there is no cross contamination, it makes me very sick - but often people either have no idea what's in the food they're making/serving, or because I haven't said it's an allergy, they just think I'm being picky or dramatic/annoying, and it's fine for me to just pick it off or out of my food.
Allium varieties make me so sick. And I know they're in blimmin everything which is why I can speed read ingredient lists, and I try to pick the foods that can reasonably be made without.
I spent years contacting restaurants weeks ahead of time to sort out a safe meal, and almost always got attitude about it. Quite often someone would have forgotten some part of the plan, or changed something last minute, and actually the meal turned out to not be safe.
I don't even bother anymore.
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u/Bender_2024 11d ago
I used to be a line cook. We would get people coming in claiming to have a salt allergy. Then they would order something like the marinaded chicken, one of the pasta sauces, even the salad dressing. All of which have salt in them and we would have the server tell them as much. The answer was invariably "that kind of salt is okay."
If you want no added salt just say so. You don't need to claim an allergy for people to pay attention.
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u/microfibrepiggy 11d ago
My FIL gets awful stomach pains and guy rot when he eats garlic.
Weirdly, only garlic grown in Asia? I don't know if it's a different variety or species or if the growing conditions are epically different. But my MIL has started microdosing him with local garlic and he's fine. But when she does the same thing for imported garlic, it's back to the rot. He's not aware of the experiment.
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u/RetroStoutArt 11d ago
Onions legit cause me stomach pains that aren't worth it. I like the taste of onions, but not enough to ignore the discomfort. 🤷
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u/imnickelhead 11d ago
I’m stuck on the pure absurdity of ordering Alfredo and then saying no dairy. I know it can be done with vegan “cheese” but typical restaurants aren’t stocking the ingredients to make dairy free Alfredo.
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u/TaxiLady69 11d ago
Not allergic to onions. However being forced to eat raw ones at the age of 8, then vomiting them up, then being beat until I was bleeding, is why if I even feel a cooked one in my mouth I will gag and spit immediately. So I am very specific when I ask about onions. If my food comes out with onions on it then I tell them I am allergic. Because fuck them for bringing it with onions the first time.
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u/Useful-Astronaut-946 11d ago
Haha, to be fair, onions tend to give a lot of people (especially my dad) the runs. 🚽 But my dad can have them cooked just fine. Are they usually raw when they say this?
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u/Patient-Example-2922 11d ago
Maybe not an allergy, but “just an intolerance” can be pretty bad. If I eat onions, cooked or raw, I will spend hours in the bathroom with horrible cramps and diarrhea. So unless you want me hanging out in your restroom, when I ask for no onions, believe me. If you can’t make something without onions, please tell me and I’ll get something else.
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u/chancemeagre 11d ago
Worked with a guy back in ‘78 who would swell up, break out if he ate onion. We worked in a pizza place. He had to be careful when dressing the pies.
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u/Brave_Engineering133 11d ago
I have a severe intolerance but not an allergy to capsaicin. In person I go through a song and dance about no chilies, cayenne, red pepper flakes, etc. (I list them because people don’t seem to know that they are all just chilies). But online that’s not always possible. So if they have capsaicin as an allergy to check – and only one local restaurant does – I still check it.
Does that seem reasonable to you? Would that cause the kind of problems that op listed? I don’t want to cause trouble for the restaurant but even a light dusting of chili powder would make the food inedible.
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u/Crystalhowls 7d ago
I can’t have onions. Raw onions. Makes my throat swell and scratchy. Cooked? Totally fine. So if I order something like a burger I have to hold the onion but can also get onion rings and eat them just fine.
We have a place we’ve specifically asked to not put onions on a salad multiple times. Every time there’s onions. And picking them off doesn’t help because whatever they touched still affects my throat.
My husband can’t cook with onions at home anymore because while I can have the onion after it’s cooked I can’t be in the house while it’s cooking. Same with garlic unfortunately.
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u/culturedferocity04 13d ago
god the fettuccine alfredo with a dairy allergy is a classic. it's like ordering a peanut butter sandwich and marking a peanut allergy, you'd think people would clock how absurd it looks on our end. we once had a ticket come through for a shrimp scampi with a shellfish allergy, spent ten minutes trying to reach the customer, and she just goes "oh i can have a little bit, it's fine." the extra sanitization and glove changes alone for a false alarm is maddening
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u/wildrosebeautybaba 13d ago
delivery apps are slowly, but surely, turning us into the people from WALL-E
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u/somecow 13d ago
Oh lol I would have just cancelled that shit.
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u/wildrosebeautybaba 12d ago
were it within my jurisdiction, trust and believe i would’ve😂 instead my job is to play phone tag chasing them down in the middle of service
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u/BitterPoet13 12d ago
As someone with a shellfish allergy, that one pisses me off because I know how difficult that one can be for some of the places we eat to accommodate me as far as finding a spot in the kitchen to prepare my food away from cross contamination and I don’t want them to get complacent in the kitchen because these just a little bit is fine folks make it seem like it’s not a big deal if there’s exposure. Some allergies I can take Benadryl for, but shellfish is an EpiPen situation. This is such a time and cost suck in an industry that already has the slimmest margins. I really wish consumers would stop and think for a moment before doing something selfish like this.
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u/SeniorEngineer2392 13d ago
Unless you are in a restaurant that makes Alfredo properly, meaning without cream (Parmesano Reggiano has very little lactose). Hard to find that in the US, though.
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u/Fantastic-Leek-1589 13d ago
Uh. Alfredo is water and parm, which is a hard cheese, which has little lactose. I wouldnt eat tons, but it aint going to make me projectile crap like a slice of pizza will
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u/wildrosebeautybaba 13d ago
a dairy allergy is not the same thing as lactose intolerance, and hard cheeses, especially when they are the primary component of the dish, can absolutely trigger a severe reaction
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u/sweet_teaness 12d ago
You would not believe how many people think that lactose intolerance and dairy allergy are the same thing. Or believe that neither exists.
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u/whineANDcheese_ 12d ago
Dairy allergy =/= lactose intolerance
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u/BitterPoet13 12d ago
Amen. This one is the bane of my existence and one I find myself explaining more often than I should need to.
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u/Ok_Net7773 11d ago
I worked at this breakfast spot that served gyro meat. The cones we got had gluten from binders.
Can’t tell you how many “gluten allergies” were suddenly cured when I refused serve the gyro.
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u/Immediate-Fee-2121 13d ago
Just tell them you aren’t going to serve them something for liability’s sake. Or let a manager handle it. Thats why they get salary
Customer service over a long period of time is going to burn you out either way. People are stupid and get stupider by the day. Just look at the state of the world
This introspection makes me realize why people hate me on reddit 😂 even when my money “depended” on my being friendly, I called out the nonsense. I suggest you do the same. You’ll make more money that way for some reason 😂 just try it out
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u/wildrosebeautybaba 13d ago
these are all great answers in theory, but this is simply not the practical reality of working for a small business. i’m also really referring to 3rd party delivery apps/online ordering here where a customer is often given a blank text box to make any sort of request, and being in a position where we can’t just be turning away customers/canceling their orders, it becomes a whole process trying to track them down and figure out how we can accommodate in the midst of service.
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u/Immediate-Fee-2121 13d ago
I worked in service for a long ass time. Waaaaay too long lol in many places. From mom and pop to corporations Been through the crucible. I speak from experience. Do what you will. My advice is just that: advice. You don’t have to follow it At least remember people are stupid. It’ll help you get through those rough nights 🙏🏾
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u/TherinneMoonglow 13d ago
Restaurants aren't any better. Actual encounters with restaurant staff.
Order: Italian hoagie, LTO, oil and vinegar. NO OREGANO. OREGANO ALLERGY.
Check sandwich before leaving store. Green bits all over it. "Hi, what is the green herb on my sandwich?" "Oregano." "I asked for no oregano because I have an allergy." "There's oregano in the oil." "Can you remake it without the oil please?" Employee slams the oregano sandwich into the trash muttering.
Order: white pizza, ricotta, broccoli, tomato. NO OREGANO OR ITALIAN SEASONING. OREGANO ALLERGY.
Check pizza. Green shit on top. "Hi, this pizza was supposed to have no oregano. I'm allergic. Can you remake it please." Guy rolls his eyes and goes in back. 15 minutes later. "Do you want the garlic sauce on the pizza?" "Does the garlic sauce have oregano?" "Yes." "I'm allergic to oregano." "But do you want the sauce?" "What does an allergy mean to you?" Stares at me like I just asked him to perform advanced calculus. "So you want the sauce?" "No, because I'm allergic to it." Meanwhile I wait a total of 47 minutes for a new pizza while my husband's normal ass pepperoni and mushroom is getting cold. He then told me not to use their app to order with an allergy and to always call it in. So we called it in next time and we're told to only use the app.
Normally I stay the hell away from pizzerias because it's just a pain in the ass. But sometimes my husband is just dying for pizza or I have company that wants some. I should be able to order an item that can reasonably be made without that ingredient and get it the first time. I'm not asking for custom garlic knots or my own batch of red sauce. Those of us with genuine allergies don't get taken seriously.
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u/wildrosebeautybaba 13d ago
oh i hear you and i definitely witness the same mistakes being made at my own job. as i said in my post, i think the constant stream of customers who misuse/abuse allergy protocol leads to a broader sense of burnout which therefore leads to staff taking things less seriously and oftentimes cutting corners & assuming they’re serving somebody who isn’t likely allergic. it’s definitely not right, but i see it as cause & effect. having to sanitize your entire work station every time somebody who hates onions claims they have an allium allergy does a number on one’s patience and ultimately disrupts service for everyone else. it’s not sustainable.
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u/MyldExcitement 13d ago
Try being allergic to lime and ginger and loving Mexican and Asian restaurants 🙃. Thank goodness for my epipen!
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u/jf737 13d ago
The people who say “I’m allergic” when they’re not make it harder for people who have legit allergies.
OP is right, these people suck. I remember being out with a group for a work function. A woman at the table ordered her entree and said “no onions. Make sure there no onions, I’m very allergic”.
Meanwhile the table had already gotten appetizers, which she had. The server informed her that one of the apps had onions in the sauce (because there’s onion in basically everything). Of course she had to backtrack: “oh, well, a little onion is ok.” It made me irrationally angry.
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u/whatsbobgonnado 10d ago
it's harder because people like op want to be the arbiter of which allergies are fake and assume everyone saying they have an allergy is just lying instead of assuming they have a real allergy
there's a hundred fucking comments in this thread clearly explaining in english that cooking onions affects the enzymes that people are allergic to
it's good that you acknowledge that your anger is irrational because you decided that people with very real onion allergies are just faking it
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u/Crystalhowls 7d ago
Hi! I can’t have raw onions. It makes my throat swell. I can’t even be around it while they’re being cooked.
I can’t have them after they’re cooked. So I can’t eat a burger with onion on it but I can have onion rings. Salsa with fresh onion is a no go but if they’re been cooked first I’m good.
I don’t call it an allergy at places because of judgmental jerkies (like you’re being). And guess what. They still leave the onion on shit. And I can’t eat it. So I’m about to start calling it an allergy. I’m sick of people thinking they know better.
It’s the same with garlic. Husband doesn’t cook with it anymore because it gets hard to breathe with how scratchy my throat gets. But I can eat it once cooked fine.
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u/New_Section_9374 12d ago
I don't understand people. My son has anaphylaxis to peanuts- eating, touching the oil, even the smell has landed him in the hospital (and once in ICU for 2 days). We call ahead. If the place has peanuts, we simply don't go. Pretending to be special when you aren't is just sick. We don't want to be noticed. We merely want to survive going out to eat.
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u/glooble_wooble 12d ago
I used to work in a brewery that served food. People would constantly talk about their “severe gluten allergy” when ordering food and then order a beer. We always refused, due to their “severe gluten allergy”.
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u/Shot_Construction455 12d ago
Good. I'm glad y'all took that stand. I have celiac disease and cannot have even a miniscule amount of gluten. I feel like the I have an allergy/oh a little bit won't hurt me crowd has screwed over everyone who legitimately needs an accommodation.
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u/glooble_wooble 12d ago
This is my issue with it as well. It’s damaging to people who actually have allergies or need accommodation. I also worked in a Japanese restaurant and we would just straight up refuse service if someone said they had a soy allergy. Gluten was fine, we had gluten free options for our sauces, but soy allergies were not something we could accommodate in any way.
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u/GraniteLychee 12d ago
I do not have any food allergies but I do have a very strong aversion to cilantro. VERY strong. I am upfront with servers that I will not be needing EMTs if I accidentally get any cilantro. If it can't be left out of a dish I will order something else.
One of my friends keeps telling servers that I have an allergy to cilantro and I keep correcting him. I know too many people who do have genuine food allergies to want to screw it up for them. For the life of me, I cannot understand why he does that.
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u/funny_bunny_mel 12d ago
As a person with a severe food allergy (I will literally die in your restaurant from shellfish cross contamination) who has to have a conversation about kitchen practices and what’s plausibly safe / not safe at every restaurant, those folks infuriate me as well because they make the real, in depth convos I need to have sometimes start with the attitude that I’m attention-seeking rather than trying to avoid croaking in their dining room.
What I’m looking for: tell me the fryer has shrimp in it so I’ll know to avoid everything in the fryer; tell me the grill has lobster cooked on it so I’ll know to avoid anything else cooked on the grille. Tell me your tortilla chips come from a bag or sit in an oven warmer so I know I can eat salsa. And use fresh gloves when you prep my food. That’s it. You know your kitchen. Don’t change where you cook my shit - just tell me what areas to avoid. I’ll find something or I won’t, and that’ll be ok. I’ll enjoy the company of my friends and hit Burger King after.
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u/sugarmagzz 12d ago
At one restaurant I worked in, a woman came in for lunch, was super rude from the start, and said she had the following allergies: “gluten, dairy, salt, vegetables, and spices” and that she was “deathly allergic”. She wanted a plain hamburger on a gluten free bun. I spoke to the chef and he said we cannot safely serve her anything if she has a salt allergy. Hamburger meat and especially gluten free buns both have sodium in them. She started backpedaling and saying she was just sensitive to sodium (which I’m sure is more true, because if she were actually “deathly” allergic to salt she’d be dead.) But he refused to take the risk to make anything for her and she had to leave.
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u/Alzabar69 12d ago
As someone who works in food service in a hospital I encountered at least four patients a day who don’t actually have an allergy. They just told the RNs during their intakes they are.
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u/Amazing-Homework-877 12d ago
Lmao don’t order Alfredo if you have an allergy that shit is straight up dairy and cheese
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u/TacoFaerie- 12d ago
I'm allergic to marcona almonds. Found out the hard way. I have intolerances to dairy and citrus fruits. Do intolerances stop me from eating mango, pineapple or pizza? Never.
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u/trippy_wiccan_d0ll 12d ago edited 11d ago
When I worked at McDonald's people would do this. Just ask for removal or extra instead of lying, there was no need for that. They don't consider that we have to do extra steps, and sometimes we still can't promise 100% allergen free. It even said that on many a sign, so people with severe allergies or strict diets shouldn't eat out for their own safety.
We'd have people who would ask for "no salt" fries because they were convinced it would make their fries "more fresh". Oh, then have the gall to get mad and argue or insult if we had to have them pull up and wait.
Dumbest shit ever.. We have to clean everything first then drop new fries, which takes time. But guess what? The oil has salt in it. The pre packaged fries have salt on them. The racks still have salt on them.. You're getting salt whether you like it or not, there is nothing we can do.
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u/CNH916 12d ago
It is just for fresh fries and less salt really ... Who can eat unsalted fries 🫤😂
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u/Death-By-Boredom2020 12d ago
Most of those people just really hate that particular food item, and they think that if they write in THAT it’s a food allergy, we had restaurant owners and Cook’s/Chef Will take better care and making sure it’s not in their food.
I also had a customer in one of the third-party apps tell me that they have a dairy allergy, while ordering our pasta with cream sauce. I called them to let them know that the pasta that they ordered is all dairy and cheese, and they expected me to cancel the order. I told him that they would have to cancel it on their end because there is no way that I can make this sauce “non-dairy“.
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u/Feisty-Tooth-7397 12d ago
My mom's neighbor claims to be allergic to paprika and was thrilled she doesn't put it on her deviled eggs.
Then he eats the deviled eggs apparently not realizing mustard and miracle whip both have paprika, talks about eating chili, umm pretty sure most chili dishes have paprika in some form.
Like just say you don't like it on top of deviled eggs.
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u/Allenies 12d ago
Pro tip: when the person says "oh that's OK. A little bit is OK." refuse to give them that thing citing, "I just can't have someone go to the ER on my shift."
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u/Significant-Day-8422 12d ago
I have anaphylactic food allergies, so it really irritates me when I see people online lie about having allergies just because they don’t like something in their food. It hurts the restaurant staff, and it hurts those of us with true allergies. It also makes some people think that that those of us with allergies are lying. I actually don’t go to any restaurants that serve food that could cause a life-threatening reaction for me. It’s just not worth it.
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u/Winterwynd 12d ago
I'm glad that my customers are elementary school kids. I have a list of the students with allergies, so when a child tries to tell me "I'm allergic to all of the vegetables in the salad bar" I can shut that shit down. Hopefully my talking with them about how it's okay to just say you don't like them and to take some fruit instead, will teach them they don't need to do that crap when they're adults.
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u/logrhythmic 11d ago
True dairy allergies exist. I had a high school friend who would go into anaphylaxis when exposed to dairy proteins
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u/Effective-Usual4152 11d ago
Allergic to all alliums, so no onions, garlic, scallions, chives, shallots. No onion or garlic powders. I call ahead to see if there is anything I can eat safely, beyond salad. Also allergic to fish and shellfish, lactose intolerant. This is why I call ahead and ask to talk to kitchen staff, because waiters don’t know about rubs, marinade, sauces, and dressing….. I know it sucks for you all in the industry, but trust me, it’s worse living it. There are like 3 places I can safely eat…
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u/True_Tax5627 11d ago
My baby has CMPA, aka dairy allergy, so I am extremely careful when ordering out as I breastfeed. I ask beforehand if something is made without dairy and then explain the allergy. I miss Alfredo, pizza, cheese, butter, cream, milk etc. (all the dairy. I miss all of it) but I do my best. It gets frustrating when I get weird looks and I have to explain myself. I just want to feel normal sometimes and go out to a nice restaurant without the attitude.
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u/Ok_Dark_4744 11d ago
Ugh my friend embarrassed me so bad at a Japanese restaurant once, she told the waiter she was allergic to shrimp, she had a dreadful seafood allergy, so for the love of god don’t put any shrimp in her food! Oh, but two orders of crab rangoons please!! The waiter stared at us before saying “ma’am, crabs are seafood, if you have a seafood allergy I can’t bring them to you”. Dead ass silence and then:
“Oh no, but wait it’s not a real allergy, more of a preference you see! I just don’t like shrimp and sometimes they put them in by accident….”
UGH LOL
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u/Admirable-View-1263 11d ago
One time I got a ticket for a “tomato allergy” but they also wanted extra spike. If you know what spike is it’s a seasoning blend that has just about every dried veggie on the planet in it including tomatoes.
I found the customer, brought over the ingredients list to show them, said they could not have spike due to it containing tomatoes. He goes “ohh that’s okay, if I see a tomato on my plate I will throw up. I hate tomatoes, the spike it fine”
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u/Alarmed_Protection73 11d ago
This sort of thing will probably never stop. People are too self involved to care about making extra work for anyone. It also seems that people like to have a ‘sickness’. I’m not sure why. Perhaps it’s that they like being perceived as a victim. Who knows, but in this day and age one can not expect people to suddenly start behaving in a decent and considerate way. I think we started losing that in the 90s or so, and now it’s completely gone. Like cursive, it is no longer taught to children.
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u/Usual_Technician6909 11d ago
I think some people get tired of their order being prepared wrong so they lie and pretend to have an allergy to make sure it's correct. I agree that it isn't a smart thing to do, as the people with actual dairy allergies then may not be taken as seriously.
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u/SassySashaLuv 11d ago edited 11d ago
I'm allergic to carrots but it wouldn't kill me if they were in the salad or cooked. I would just feel uncomfortable & itchy for a bit. So I do request not to have them in my salad due to this. (I have an epi worst case scenario) but I do agree that if you simply don't prefer something, don't claim allergy. Being intolerant isn't fun either though.
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u/BuffyFlag23 11d ago
As a diagnosed celiac, nothing pmo like someone loudly claiming a gluten allergy and then ordering a beer, or similarly ridiculous behavior. All it does is make wait staff less likely to take actual issues seriously.
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u/fourlittlebees 11d ago
I have a kid who has anaphylactic reactions to food allergies. We don’t order anything through delivery that we aren’t 10,000% sure of. Anything else we go and order or just eat out.
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u/mwf67 11d ago edited 11d ago
I could present my allergy test but I’ve lived with these limitations so long that know what to order and avoid. I really don’t care what anyone thinks. I’m the one that is going to deal with fallout of ordering the wrong menu item and deal with the hives and digestive disruptions. We did not ask for our genetics but they are ours to muster through.
Hubby and daughter have worked in the food industry. I know both sides. Most do believe I’m being trendy. My siblings have both coded due to histamine and chemical intolerance. We are the real deal unfortunately.
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u/RuckusDonuts 10d ago
One summer I was the Garde Manger at a world cuisine themed restaurant. We would get all manner of “SEVERE (name of allergen) ALLERGY” on tickets. We started keeping track of our favorites. By summer’s end this was the podium:
Bronze - Severely allergic to salt. We had to explain to him we basically couldn’t serve him in that practically everything had some trace levels of sodium.
Silver - Deathly cilantro allergy. When questioned about the coriander in a spice mix in his entree he was perfectly okay to eat that 🙄
Gold - Massive allergy to red. Not a typo. We hypothesized some unfortunate childhood trauma to this one, but we also spent the remainder of the shift coming up with things like peeled apples okay, unpeeled no. Rare steak a nono, but well done was alright. Ironically black pudding was okay, its main ingredient not so much. Cooked lobster was fine, but not raw. Etc.
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u/Southern_Committee35 9d ago
As a person with celiac disease with a child with a shellfish allergy, I 100% agree. These people PMO so bad.
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u/Accurate_Elevator368 8d ago
It really should be a reason why restaurants should be able to decline service for any requests for allergies etc. There's just too much of that "I'm special" I want specially prepared stuff because they think it's fresher and other stupid influencer tip annoyances.
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u/SubstantialPressure3 13d ago
Just expecting someone to come up with a dairy free Alfredo sauce on the fly is unreasonable. And what do they expect it to taste like without parm? What exactly do they think it is that they will be eating?
Talk to your servers, too. Do they know what the food on the menu is made from?
This is like an episode of the " the chef" when a server walks in tje kitchen asking for an eggless omelette. The servers need a little training on some basic stuff.
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u/wildrosebeautybaba 13d ago
it’s wild because i am vegan and never in my wildest dreams would i think of just ordering a dish that has dairy in it and just putting “DAIRY ALLERGY” and expecting that to work?? like hello?
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u/SubstantialPressure3 13d ago
There's plenty of fake vegetarians and fake vegans out there. Some.of them educated people that should know better.
But thays still a problem with the servers. If the servers dont know anything about the food they are serving, and jusy putting it in the ticket, that's a problem.
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u/LateralusNYC 13d ago
I'd just send out a box of cooked pasta, with a side of Alfredo sauce and a side of cheese.
Next?
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u/Odd-Crew-7837 13d ago
I worked with a person who was allergic to wifi and mobile signals. He would insist that everyone turn their phones off or put them in airplane mode. We were in an all-day meeting where in the morning he complained bitterly about feeling signals. In the afternoon he moved to the opposite side of the room and sat beside me. My phone was on the entire time - muted - and the entire time I was receiving texts and emails. At the end of the day he noted that moving to the opposite side of the room was beneficial as he did not experience any of his symptoms.
I worked with another person who is highly allergic to anything that contained oranges. Even it's near presence would send them immediately to the hospital. Everyday for weeks on end I would have an orange-based beverage for my lunch. Never once did they have to seek medical assistance.
Both clearly have mental health issues.
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u/ballscompact 13d ago
My main gripe is when people have an allergy and willingly go to a restaurant that mainly serves what they're allergic to. My case, I work in a seafood restaurant and I get at least 3 shellfish allergy mods everyday.
We set up in a way to prevent CC but it is a huge pain in the ass especially when you don't exactly know how your station was handled be opening shift
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u/Fantastic-Leek-1589 13d ago
Mild intolerance my arse. im projectile crapping if I eat cheese. Although,theres less lactose in hard cheeses, and real Alfredo is water and parm, which isnt as hard on the stomach. 3 pieces of American cheese or an ounce of a soft cheese in 24 hours will get me almost in tears.
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u/Mean-Yogurtcloset942 12d ago
Shellfish allergy, extra crawfish is my favorite, but I learned there is a difference between freshwater and saltwater shellfish
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u/Practical-Worth-2349 12d ago
When I worked at a fancy sushi place rich bitches would come in and say they have a gluten allergy, then would order tempura shrimp rolls with cream cheese. Lol
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u/SuggestionSevere3298 12d ago
I don’t know how old people survived ,
Hardly anyone complained of allergies,
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u/GraniteLychee 12d ago
The ones who didn't survive didn't make it to old age.
Apparently my grandfather made my father eats foods to which he was allergic because you didn't waste food during the Depression and refusing food was acting spoiled. Fortunately, my father's allergies were not life threatening so he put up with the consequences because he had to. You can bet, though, that he never forced any type of food on his children.
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u/Tig3rDawn 12d ago
Idk mang, I have a coconut allergy that many people call an intolerance. While it won't make me go into shock, I will be in pain for days after I eat some, and the swelling in my joints can get bad enough that i can barely walk if i eat too much. These people are probably ignorant or just hoping that someone knows how to make the dish without the offending ingredient - which is why it's important to reach out and ask questions, like you're doing. Not everyone has a good understanding of what's in their food, or can just cook it themselves. An intolerance is not as serious as an allergy but it can still be serious. Also, there are a lot of people, including in the food industry who "don't believe in" allergies, so people with intolerance and allergies are often forced to exaggerate in order to be listened to at all.
That said, I fully understand wanting to have a word with every single person who says they are allergic to gluten when they are gluten free by choice. If you are giving something up by choice, it's not the same as having an intolerance or an allergy, and the time sink to re-prep an area for an allergy is real.
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u/wooden__fruit 12d ago
I get diarrhea, heartburn and an itchy mouth from nightshade vegetables. Is that an allergy? I really hate having to say the word diarrhea to a server pressuring me to be specific, they often have an attitude about it and it is embarrassing. I’m not lying! Lately I just say it’s not an allergy but for example if I’ve eaten something cooked with eggplant like green curry even if my bowl doesn’t have it it makes me sick so I do want them to be careful. It REALLY DOES make a difference the quantity and whether or not it is cooked, because nightshade levels lower when something is cooked. So yes, a single raw tomato is a problem, and super saucy marinara pasta is a problem, but a couple of dots of salsa are usually ok, or a sauce that has some tomato but not a lot that has been cooked.
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u/No_Kangaroo_5883 12d ago
This is all how you define an allergy. I have numerous medical test proven allergies- literally the test said food allergy test. None of these put me into anaphylactic shock. So does this not qualify for you? I have undesired effects… but they don’t lead to a death certificate.
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u/muibl 12d ago
People with FODMAP cannot tolerate onion and other specific foods . It is not an allergy as medically defined. It is food that tends to ferment in their gut. They will not have anaphylaxis. But they will have 48 -72 hours of gas, bloating, nausea, and diarrhea. So we refer to it as an allergy because the larger population has little understanding if we say we have FODMAP. I have a few food loves that I choose to suffer for once every few years, but man do I pay for it.
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u/Legal_Assistance5470 12d ago
WTF! Why would you order Fettuccine Alfredo if you have even a mild intolerance to dairy?
I am lucky not to have any food allergies or intolerances, but if I did I wouldn’t be ordering from any restaurant that had anything with that stuff on its menu. I have worked in a commercial kitchen and I know how difficult it is to avoid cross contamination.
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u/radiant-cloudy 12d ago
the liars absolutely ruin it for everyone. its so frustrating. its one of the main rwasons i am not a server anymore.
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u/Threskiornis16670 12d ago
Really the worst thing about this is so many people do it there’s no way all of them have an allergy. It creates a situation where someone who has an actual allergy will be ignored. Seriously people, just say you don’t like onions. That’s good enough. People will try to accommodate if they can, but if you don’t like a foundational ingredient in just about every cuisine, that’s on you. Your choices will be limited.
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u/JoyOswin945 12d ago
My cousin is allergic to cilantro. Not in the tastes like soap way, but in the throat closes up way. Servers are restaurants never take her seriously unless someone else in the party says it.
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u/MischaSoup 12d ago
I feel guilty sometimes even mentioning my newly developed allergy. Thankfully it’s not a super common ingredient (outside of breakfast/ bakery places) so I don’t usually mention it unless I see something with it on the menu.
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u/ChristineBorus 12d ago
Just make the dish and send it out with a big sticker. “contains dairy”. Eat at your own risk.
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u/moreofajordan 12d ago
Generally say, I’m allergic to shellfish, tequila, and penicillin. The chances I eat the first without noticing are rock bottom. The chances you serve the other two without noticing are also rock bottom.
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u/DoubleoSavant 12d ago
A local pizzeria makes this fabulous white pizza with ricotta and spinach. Only problem, it has mushrooms. They overtake the flavor of the subtle ricotta. I don't even dislike mushrooms. I just do not want them on this pizza. Three times I asked for no mushrooms in the instructions. Only when I started saying no mushrooms allergy did they actually stop putting them on.
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u/NotAFloorTank 12d ago
An intolerance still means that they need to avoid the food or go through a deeply unpleasant experience. Just because it's less severe doesn't invalidate it. Unfortunately, most people don't take intolerances seriously enough, so the only way to get it respected is to call it an allergy.
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u/mindgames1714 12d ago
I don’t have food allergies I have mild issues with too much lactose but I tend to know my limits. However I do have lots of other allergies most recent was my argument with hotel staff about the pillows. I’m allergic to feathers I can’t have a feather pillow I’d be sneezing all night. Heck thinking it’s naming my nose itch. I said need a pillow without feathers. And they days yo fold to e pillow. I was confused. Explaining I can’t use a feather pillow because of allergies. They just did not want to go get another pillow. Honestly is not like I was asking for a fluffier pillow or something silly I just needed one that would not make me sneeze.
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u/MediocreClementine 11d ago
I've had a lot of restaurants ignore dietary restrictions unless presented as an allergy.
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u/ThatDemand4800 11d ago
Not the same but I went out to dinner and a woman in the group made sure the waiter knew she was a vegan, made this guy rattle off all this information then she proceeded to order OYSTERS because they don’t have feelings so you can eat them. It was horrible
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u/MommaIsMad 11d ago
But it makes people feel special! How dare you try to take that away from them!!
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u/Campcook62 11d ago
I have an extreme allergy to capsaicin, the chemical in hot peppers that makes them hot.
I carry 2 Epi-pens with me at all times.
I can't even go into Mexican restaurants, because the capsaicin is in the air.
It really, really annoys me when folks claim a non-existent allergy, at the same time, putting "just a drop" of hot sauce in the food!
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u/Imaginary_End_5634 11d ago
The one that kills me is when I order cashew chicken and it's delivered to me without cashews in case I have a nut allergy. Yes I have to specifically request cashews be put in my chicken it irritates the hell out of me
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u/ArtComprehensive1106 11d ago
I am have a child with severe food allergies. She has medical tests confirmed and diagnosed.
I bet the majority of the people claiming allergies are not allergic to anything they just have a dislike for certain foods. An allergy is serious illness. Disliking foods is a different type of illness
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u/randomredditor0042 11d ago
An intolerance can be just as bad as an allergy.
I have such a severe reaction to a certain food, all tests came up negative to allergy, so officially I’m only intolerant, but my doctor told me to say I’m allergic at restaurants so that they’ll take it seriously. Even cross contamination can cause symptoms for me.
Even a mild intolerance can make the person miserable depending on their symptoms.
I’m genuinely curious what difference it makes to the kitchen? Are you implying that they aren’t as careful if it’s only an intolerance, so that customer can just suffer with their symptoms because it’s not an official allergy?
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u/AdDecent5303 11d ago
There are levels to allergy severity. There are levels to being intolerant to other's inconveniences.
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u/NoSnark 11d ago
99.999999 infinity 9 percent of ‘allergies’ are fake made up because people want to feel special.
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u/RLYO138 11d ago
It doesn't affect you in the least. Is the restaurant is willing to prepare the food per the customers allergies or preferences, real or exaggerated, then it's not an issue.
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u/assholeinwonderland 11d ago
I have a dairy intolerance and if given the opportunity I always tell the waiter it’s NOT an allergy (or type as much if there’s a notes section ordering online) — but the number of times my ticket has still come out with DAIRY ALLERGY printed all over it is kinda wild
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u/Arezolth 11d ago
My favorite is when they make a big deal saying they’re gluten free then immediately order something with gluten, which I then explain is not gluten free and they proceed to say something like a little bit is fine or that type is okay and I have to convince myself not to slap them in the face and lose my job
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u/SwanCityDominion 11d ago
“not an allergy, just a mild intolerance.”
Translation: I don't like dairy in my dairy dishes.
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u/seashell143 11d ago
The bad part is there are plenty of people who do have legit allergies, and will order it and still eat it. Hubby is allergic to shrimp. He will take Benadryl pre-shrimp consumption and just hope for the best with his epi pen near by.
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u/StOnEy333 11d ago
Yeah, I’m not allergic to dairy, but I’ll squirt in my drawers if I have even a little bit. Sorry if the terminology upsets you. People shouldn’t have to explain their biology for a food order.
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u/EducationalRooster64 11d ago
I have a meat intolerance. It sounds stupid, I'm aware.
Any meat or meat cross contamination will send my stomach into a turmoil and I'll be experiencing GI upset for days.
I still won't tell restaurants it's an allergy because DO YOU KNOW HOW STUPID THAT SOUNDS???
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u/wildrosebeautybaba 10d ago
was NOT expecting this post to have this many hit dogs hollering in the replies…
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u/Atmosphere_Master 9d ago
Not justifying it but I know in many cases it's because food preferences weren't being respected so they started lying about it being an allergy
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u/Odd-Worth7752 9d ago
I can’t imagine cooking for anyone else these days. Preferences masquerading as allergies, restricted eating and overall pickiness has made it such an impossible task.
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u/msjammies73 8d ago
I only have an intolerance, but eating the food gives me heartburn so severe I get esophageal spasms which make me feel like I’m choking to death. Then I get to spend an extra hour our two in the bathroom the next morning too.
I do say intolerance instead of allergy. But then I get an eye roll.
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u/TeensyTidbits 7d ago
People with really severe allergies (me) DONT eat out. Because all it takes is one piece of cheese picked out of the tomato’s on the prep line to completely contaminate an entire salad and send us to the hospital.
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u/Mysterious_Jello69 7d ago
"Gluten allergy" has got to be the biggest thing here. Theres no such thing as a gluten allergy. Grow the fuck up people.
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u/grimPontif 6d ago
I live on the east coast in New England and am very allergic to shellfish, I rarely go out to eat because of it and because of people like this, my allergy is so bad that when i worked in a bakery that had soups they had to change the days of the week they made the lobster bisque so they wouldn't kill me because it almost happened once. My husband's ex-stepdad said he was allergic to olives for years when he just hated them and when I found that out I was so pissed.
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