St Paul Restuarants Fighting Allergy Ordinance

[Gil Dobie]

Should restuartant owners have a book with their recipes available to all customers which also could be completitors that ask? It's on hold, but looks like the proposal will be back with updates. Many restuarants already ask the customers if there are any food issues prior to serving. An aside, Carter tested his daughter for reaction to the peanut oil at Candyland, and there was none according to a radio interview today.

Strib Link
A proposal to require St. Paul restaurants and caterers to provide food allergen information to customers is going to simmer for a while.

St. Paul City Council Member Melvin Carter III withdrew the proposed ordinance on Wednesday along with another that would discount license fees if certain conditions about allergy awareness were met.

Restaurant owners and business groups in the city have reacted angrily to the proposed ordinance.

Carter said he pulled the proposal to allow for some fine-tuning over the next several months with the help of business owners.

Strib Link
Could it be that since no such ordinance exists anywhere in the country that he is finding that it might be politically advantageous to him to be the first person to author one? I mean, haven't we seen a rash in recent times of ordinances banning trans fats as well those establishing menu labeling guidelines? It seems to be so much in fashion these days to require everyone but the person who is actively feeding himself to be responsible for what that person eats.

[Col Hogan]

[JMU DJ]

Do they have to provide recipes or can they just say "may contain nuts" or "may contain shell fish?" As someone with one of these allergies, I greatly appreciate it when a restaurant has those listed in the menu. The proposal does seem a little over the top... but I do also like how City Councilman Carter decided to do this for the benefit of the public that he serves, I mean, his three year old daughter who has food allergies. Man, I need to get in power so that I can force my legislative agenda too.

[polsongrizz]

If this pertains to you then don't you already ask if a dish contains X? At the most all they should have to do is include as stated above, this menu item contains this. And not right away. Does this guy own a print shop or something? Menus are expensive to replace.

[Gil Dobie]

Do they have to provide recipes or can they just say "may contain nuts" or "may contain shell fish?" As someone with one of these allergies, I greatly appreciate it when a restaurant has those listed in the menu. The proposal does seem a little over the top... but I do also like how City Councilman Carter decided to do this for the benefit of the public that he serves, I mean, his three year old daughter who has food allergies. Man, I need to get in power so that I can force my legislative agenda too.

The original proposal wanted every ingredient in every item listed. This would take probably a 100 page booklet produced for every menu. Probably a larger book for restuarants that change their menu's daily or even weekly.

[JMU DJ]

The original proposal wanted every ingredient in every item listed. This would take probably a 100 page booklet produced for every menu. Probably a larger book for restuarants that change their menu's daily or even weekly.

Yeah, I saw that part...

provide an allergen information handbook to any person upon request. The handbook would contain copies of all ingredient labels for food being served

... that was the over the top part. I ask all the time about the food allergy, especially if I'm not sure. Was once told by a restaurant that it absolutely did not contain the allergen... I was throwing up all night with an epi pen sticking out of my leg.

[mainejeff]

How has the human population survived this long?

Seems like everyone has a food allergy and an autistic kid these days.

I love how the food allergy Nazis are getting stuff pushed through.......yet despite people being allergic to dogs (causing things like hives, asthma attacks, coughing and sneezing)........we see dogs on planes, dogs in stores, and even dogs in restaurants! Seems like we've got people trumping the "rights" of other people all the time. F the nut allergies!

[JMU DJ]

How has the human population survived this long?

Seems like everyone has a food allergy and an autistic kid these days.

F the nut allergies!

Yeah, when your throat swells shut from something you eat and you can't, then I'll listen...

... most people, as mentioned up top in this thread, who have a serious food allergy are smart enough to know where they can eat and also ask. I don't go raw bars or eat a lot of sushi because of cross contamination, while one of my good friends from college can never enjoy a Chic-fil-a sandwich. It's common sense, there's no need to go as far as this legislation though... full disclosure is a little much. A simple "*" with a note at the bottom of the menu that says "contain nuts" isn't that big of a deal.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

That's where this is headed - is a notice of some sort. just a note - it's a slow news week in MN and the Strib in particular has been looking for "controversies" for about two weeks - including the *gasp* scandal that the Twins used a Colorado turf farm for the sod for Target Field - yet the reporter couldn't cite one hacked off sod farmer...

in this case - Melvin wrote the ordinance in response to a number of his constituents having reactions at a couple places in town where even seemingly innocuous items were triggering allergies. (btw, the backstory on this is that it turns out it's largely a problem in asian restaurants where nuts are used, esp. Thai places - the chefs use the same tools on a dozen pans - something they shouldn't be doing)

the ordinance isn't well written - but it will end up ammended in to a good one - Mel is newish to the council (full disclosure, I consulted for him in '05)- and is far better at responding to constituents than he is drafting ordinances - once Councilman Bostrom and President Lantry have at it - it'll be a decent bill - and likely a model for other cities... until then, it's a tabled ordinance dug up by a paper desperate for "a scoop".

[Gil Dobie]

A simple "*" with a note at the bottom of the menu that says "contain nuts" isn't that big of a deal.

What about all the other food allergies? I could be a huge list. I like what the Heartland for example does, they ask the customer up front if they have any food issues. Just like going to the Dr., they ask up front if you have any known allergies.

[mainejeff]

Here's an idea..........have a food allergy?.........don't go to a restaurant!

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Here's an idea..........have a food allergy?.........don't go to a restaurant!

wow... Z level dickishness... you wear it surprisingly well...

[JMU DJ]

What about all the other food allergies? I could be a huge list. I like what the Heartland for example does, they ask the customer up front if they have any food issues. Just like going to the Dr., they ask up front if you have any known allergies.

Yeah, that's more of what I was thinking... either ask the staff, have the staff ask you or just put a note in the menu that says something like "Some of our food contains known food allergens, speak with you waiter if you have any concerns"

[death dealer]

Here's an idea..........have a food allergy?.........don't go to a restaurant!

wow... Z level dickishness... you wear it surprisingly well...

Z only wishes he could be as big an asshole as this guy. He's taken shitheadedness to the professional level.

[death dealer]

Processed food labels in stores have a small section right below the ingredients list that gives a concise list of allergens. It's not complicated and would be easy enough to do. You could assign a symbol of each class of allergen and put it beside each menu item with a list of them at the end of the menu. Have an allergy, look at the symbols by the item you are considering, consult the list to see what each symbol represents, if it's your allergy, move on. But ultimately, if you have a food allergy, you have to be willing to take a chance when you eat out. Even if something you order doesn't contain an ingredient you are allergic to, one of the cooks may accidentally cross contaminate. You just have to be prepared with the epi-pen and always know the quickest route to the ER. My son is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, so I know all about it. It's a pain for him, and I feel bad for him, but that's his lot in life, and he'll just have to learn to deal with it.

[death dealer]

Here's an idea..........have a food allergy?.........don't go to a restaurant!

You are such a pussy. My kid is allergic to peanuts, why don't you come down here to G'vegas and say some shit like that to my face?

[JMU DJ]

Even if something you order doesn't contain an ingredient you are allergic to, one of the cooks may accidentally cross contaminate.

This is where it gets a little ridiculous too... even for me having a food allergy. I don't know if anyone has ever been to a Wegmans grocery, but they have a food court that is pretty awesome. Anyway, every single place at the food court has a sign that says something like "Warning: All foods may contain nuts or shellfish as they may have been cross contaminated in our food prep area." Shit, I couldn't even get a slice of cheese pizza if I actually heeded the warning on their signs.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Processed food labels in stores have a small section right below the ingredients list that gives a concise list of allergens. It's not complicated and would be easy enough to do. You could assign a symbol of each class of allergen and put it beside each menu item with a list of them at the end of the menu. Have an allergy, look at the symbols by the item you are considering, consult the list to see what each symbol represents, if it's your allergy, move on. But ultimately, if you have a food allergy, you have to be willing to take a chance when you eat out. Even if something you order doesn't contain an ingredient you are allergic to, one of the cooks may accidentally cross contaminate. You just have to be prepared with the epi-pen and always know the quickest route to the ER. My son is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, so I know all about it. It's a pain for him, and I feel bad for him, but that's his lot in life, and he'll just have to learn to deal with it.

I kinda like the symbol idea a little wheat top for gluten, a peanut, a tree for tree nuts, a milk bottle for lactose... i dunno what phenylalanine would get though... plus - i like little logos like that

[mainejeff]

Here's an idea..........have a food allergy?.........don't go to a restaurant!

You are such a pussy. My kid is allergic to peanuts, why don't you come down here to G'vegas and say some **** like that to my face?

I know.....I know......we have to mandate EVERYTHING (including common sense these days). Why have these kids all of a sudden developed nut allergies???

[JMU DJ]

You are such a pussy. My kid is allergic to peanuts, why don't you come down here to G'vegas and say some **** like that to my face?

I know.....I know......we have to mandate EVERYTHING (including common sense these days). Why have these kids all of a sudden developed nut allergies???

More kids receiving allergy test as youths... many outgrow allergies in their teens, I have except for the food allergy... the allergy test doesn't show how you will react, just that you will. Some are mild, some cause anaphylactic shock... you just don't know which is why some parents probably get their panties twisted in a knot about it. If you would like, there are numerous research articles that talk about the the bodies response in those who have and don't have peanut allergies (i.e. the difference in levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor, Interleukins, Interferon receptors in response to the peanut allergen)... the same goes for gluten where there is an autoimmune reaction and so on with other allergens. There are also many articles talking about the increase in food allergies over time, some from decades ago asking the same question you are: Why the sudden increase? Possibly because peanuts and peanut butter are relatively new to the food chain you didn't hear as much about the allergy back in your youth during the Lincoln era? Possibly because there is allergy testing that wasn't around or as good back then either?


Perhaps that's to much for your morning coffee...

[death dealer]

You know, I don't care if it's a law or not. I tend to think regualations are a weaker version of good old fashioned market pressure. Enough people request it, some chain will start doing it. Once one does it, the others will join pretty fast. And if they don't, they'll begin to see their market share drop. I'm telling you, this shit is way more prevalent than you would guess.

Townes, my son, swells up like a tick, and begins to go into respiratory distress if he eats a walnut, pecan, chestnut, peanut, etc. He's OK with pine nuts, brazil's, almonds, and a few others.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

You know, I don't care if it's a law or not. I tend to think regualations are a weaker version of good old fashioned market pressure. Enough people request it, some chain will start doing it. Once one does it, the others will join pretty fast. And if they don't, they'll begin to see their market share drop. I'm telling you, this shit is way more prevalent than you would guess.

Townes, my son, swells up like a tick, and begins to go into respiratory distress if he eats a walnut, pecan, chestnut, peanut, etc. He's OK with pine nuts, brazil's, almonds, and a few others.

and all it takes for a parent to become a foaming at the mouth hysteria case is to see that happen to their child once - can't blame 'em either, i saw it happen to a friend of mine and it was... upsetting...

if the restaurant industry wants to put the cork on laws like this, DD is right, now is the time for some sort system of easy to understand symbols that will head off a hodge-podge of local regs

[grizzaholic]

.

[death dealer]

We're not foaming at the mouth about it, but we do like to eat out quite a bit. And it would be nice if restaurants could work up a quick little system to make it easy for parents to breeze through the selections, and avoid trouble. We always ask about ingredients, what kind of oil they fry in, etc. But the vast majority of the time, the server has no clue and has to spend the next five minutes trying to track down the info. Wouldn't it be easier and more efficient to simply make that part of the kids menu. I mean, it's not as if we're talking about a multi page menu here, most kids menus consist of five to ten items at most.

[death dealer]

TTBF, why don't people just use common sense?

Because common sense doesn't always apply. There are peanuts in things that you would never in a million years expect there to be peanuts in. It's mind boggling. The peanut industry has managed to get it's product into every nook and cranny in creation!!