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73
Waiter Learns He’s Been Lying To Customers About Vegetarian Food After Checking The Ingredients
If you think someone spitting in your food at a restaurant is bad, then you haven’t worked at one to understand the true potential of culinary evil.
All jokes aside, saliva on your steak is probably the least of your concerns if you’re experiencing an allergic reaction to something you were assured is not there. Like, ordering something at a vegetarian restaurant and suddenly experiencing symptoms of allergy to shellfish.
While that didn’t happen, it’s definitely a likely true potential scenario, though.
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Image credits: Sabri Tuzcu (not the actual photo)
Now, claiming you’re a vegetarian joint all the while using seafood in your sauce might be much more problematic. Especially if customers are allergic
Image credits: Bimo Luki (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Yente Van Eynde (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Cristina Anne Costello (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Blaise242
So, when this waiter found out the vegetarian restaurant he worked at isn’t purely vegetarian, he had to do something about it
Image credits: Martin Lopez (not the actual photo)
A Redditor by the nickname of Blaise242—a waiter by trade—recently shared a story that left him in a bit of a dilemma.
You see, OP works at a vegetarian restaurant. Some of the dishes are even vegan. So, you’d think everything there is vegetarian at the very least. Well, it came as a surprise when OP found out that some things weren’t truly vegetarian.
Turns out, many of the dishes OP orders himself, and even recommends to customers, are made with oyster sauce. And while there are vegetarian versions of it, this was, unfortunately, not that. It did include actual oyster and fish products. Heck, there was a history of using imitation crab in some meals that had non-veggie products in them.
So, now OP was conflicted. Obviously, they felt like they should address the issue, but decided to talk to folks online about it first.
The waiter turned to the internet for advice because this issue can lead to serious trouble
Image credits: LinkedIn Sales Navigator (not the actual photo)
Folks online were quick to point out the restaurant’s liability in several ways. For one, non-vegetarian ingredients like fish and oyster products can also be allergens and hence can potentially harm the customer. Quite a lot, actually. This is besides being accused of lying about being vegetarian, but not really holding to that. Either way, it could mean some serious legal repercussions, and that’s if the customer doesn’t sue.
Many suggested talking to the staff responsible for such decision-making. If anything, to let them know about these issues and that it’s not right. Because nothing truly gets a job done with an unreasonable boss like a swift explanation on how this or that might very likely hit profits.
OP did note in the comments that some things aren’t labeled as vegetarian in the menu. But the restaurant does market itself as such, and nearly all dishes can be made vegetarian. So, it’s probably not a case of being in legal trouble for something, but it’s still low.
There was also a debate on whether fish and seafood are vegetarian. Well, the bottom line is that it’s not, that would be pescatarian. But there are still folks, like the ones in this restaurant, who think it is.
And if someone does get, say, food poisoning, it might become worse from a legal standpoint because it’s hard to prove things
Image credits: Farhad Ibrahimzade (not the actual photo)
Things like food poisoning from a legal standpoint are a bit tricky. Lack of food safety is in a bit of an imbalance when it comes to who needs to prove what. If a person gets food poisoning, their lawyer has to prove that it was due to the restaurant’s negligence or recklessness. Sure, it’s easy to prove that you were poisoned, but there are many—many—factors that don’t necessarily allow one to prove that it was that particular thing that poisoned you.
In other words, it’s hard to prove who was responsible. Was it the food manufacturers? Was it the food distributors? Was it really someone in the restaurant? Was it because it was undercooked or were the utensils dirty? Heck, it also depends on whether you’re trying to eat something dangerous. Like one of those squids that are still alive and could suffocate you. All of these variables are hard to track and it’s all down to the poisoned bloke’s lawyer to prove all of that.
Now, if you can prove that it was truly the restaurant’s doing, then there are a lot of things that you can ask for as compensation: to cover the cost of medical expenses and future medical bills, lost wages and lost future income, property damage (if any), emotional distress, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. Judges don’t usually reward that last one, but if your lawyer is good, they might.
So, what are your thoughts on any of this? Leave a comment explaining your reasoning and approach in the comment section below!
Folks online pointed out the risk of allergies and fraud, with the original poster also taking an active role in the comments
What do you think ?
Zedrapazia 2 years ago
What an incompetent restaurant! It's super easy to get vegan oyster sauce replacement, I even use it at home because it's cheaper than real oyster sauce, but still tastes exactly the same.
majandess 2 years ago
The vegan oyster sauce isn't cheaper where I live, but it's similar in price. I think the suggestion of "did you get the wrong sauce delivered" was the best tack to take here.
Load More Replies...
Poison Ivy/Boo 2 years ago (edited)
This is so not cool!! People with severe allergies should not be taken lightly! If I have any shellfish or certain fish would mean I could die. She needs to talk to the owners of the potential liability on their part, especially if the dishes aren't labelled in the menu. If someone dies because of their negligence, not many family members would be forgiving and would sue them into the ground.
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
Omg. I did this to someone. I wanted my friend to try my delicious vegetarian curry and she loved it. Months later I wanted to make it at home and was super embarrassed to learn about the fish sauce that was in it. I told her and apologized profusely. She was super nice and understanding. 😪
Bobby 2 years ago
I could se this being unintentional. I've never used oyster sauce but thought it was a sauce meant for oysters, not from oysters. Because the colors are similar I thought it was a specially seasoned soy sauce
Jaya 2 years ago (edited)
Yes, but you don't run a restaurant (I'm assuming). As a random individual it's totally fine to make that assumption, but when you run a restaurant, it's your responsibility to know what's in the food and to communicate that to customers correctly. Edit: Apparently they didn't actually say it was vegetarian on the menu, so they didn't communicate incorrectly at all, so never mind my response :)
Load More Replies...
Debby Keir 2 years ago
One of the reasons that people ask whether vegetarians eat fish, is due to the Catholic church. You are not supposed to eat meat on Fridays, so many ate fish instead, as 'fish', according to the church, was not 'meat'.
Nilsen 2 years ago
But when they anpounce themselves as vegan friendly and anounces that these dishes contain no animal products, they shouldn't be made with _oyster sauce_.
Load More Replies...
Kare Deter 2 years ago
Being "vegetarian and vegan friendly" does not mean that is their exclusive menu. OP states in comments that most dishes can be made vegetarian which implies they usually are not, and is somewhat contradictory from what is stated in the article itself. As long as there is a statement posted somewhere (normally in the menu itself) that cross-contamination of allergen causing food is possible due to their presence on site, the onus falls on the diner to ask about the ingredients and protect themselves. The menu item he specifically mentions in the article he stipulates in the comments that it isn't marketed as "vegetarian" so this is a non issue.
The Original Bruno 2 years ago
Quitting over this seems bizarre since OP acknowledges that the menu item is not sold as vegetarian. I'm guessing he thought it would be because it's tofu-based? Oyster sauce is a common ingredient in Asian cooking. If the food is otherwise vegetarian, he might suggest switching to a vegetarian sauce so they COULD market it as vegetarian.
CraftyCaterer 2 years ago
OP says themselves that the restaurant states " ALMOST ANY DISH CAN BE MADE VEGETARIAN " on their website. So, YES, they are Vegan/ vegetarian friendly therefore, to my understanding; NO, they are NOT claiming to be a solely vegan/vegetarian restaurant. The use of fish/shellfish products is a red herring (pun unintended) Where I live and work (UK) all allergens must be marked on the menu by law , even if this isn't the case where the op is located it could be suggested to the owners as a positive idea. OP also says they have other issues with the job, so is this all just an excuse to justify leaving?
Zedrapazia 2 years ago
What an incompetent restaurant! It's super easy to get vegan oyster sauce replacement, I even use it at home because it's cheaper than real oyster sauce, but still tastes exactly the same.
majandess 2 years ago
The vegan oyster sauce isn't cheaper where I live, but it's similar in price. I think the suggestion of "did you get the wrong sauce delivered" was the best tack to take here.
Load More Replies... Poison Ivy/Boo 2 years ago (edited)
This is so not cool!! People with severe allergies should not be taken lightly! If I have any shellfish or certain fish would mean I could die. She needs to talk to the owners of the potential liability on their part, especially if the dishes aren't labelled in the menu. If someone dies because of their negligence, not many family members would be forgiving and would sue them into the ground.
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
Omg. I did this to someone. I wanted my friend to try my delicious vegetarian curry and she loved it. Months later I wanted to make it at home and was super embarrassed to learn about the fish sauce that was in it. I told her and apologized profusely. She was super nice and understanding. 😪
Bobby 2 years ago
I could se this being unintentional. I've never used oyster sauce but thought it was a sauce meant for oysters, not from oysters. Because the colors are similar I thought it was a specially seasoned soy sauce
Jaya 2 years ago (edited)
Yes, but you don't run a restaurant (I'm assuming). As a random individual it's totally fine to make that assumption, but when you run a restaurant, it's your responsibility to know what's in the food and to communicate that to customers correctly. Edit: Apparently they didn't actually say it was vegetarian on the menu, so they didn't communicate incorrectly at all, so never mind my response :)
Load More Replies... Debby Keir 2 years ago
One of the reasons that people ask whether vegetarians eat fish, is due to the Catholic church. You are not supposed to eat meat on Fridays, so many ate fish instead, as 'fish', according to the church, was not 'meat'.
Nilsen 2 years ago
But when they anpounce themselves as vegan friendly and anounces that these dishes contain no animal products, they shouldn't be made with _oyster sauce_.
Load More Replies... Kare Deter 2 years ago
Being "vegetarian and vegan friendly" does not mean that is their exclusive menu. OP states in comments that most dishes can be made vegetarian which implies they usually are not, and is somewhat contradictory from what is stated in the article itself. As long as there is a statement posted somewhere (normally in the menu itself) that cross-contamination of allergen causing food is possible due to their presence on site, the onus falls on the diner to ask about the ingredients and protect themselves. The menu item he specifically mentions in the article he stipulates in the comments that it isn't marketed as "vegetarian" so this is a non issue.
The Original Bruno 2 years ago
Quitting over this seems bizarre since OP acknowledges that the menu item is not sold as vegetarian. I'm guessing he thought it would be because it's tofu-based? Oyster sauce is a common ingredient in Asian cooking. If the food is otherwise vegetarian, he might suggest switching to a vegetarian sauce so they COULD market it as vegetarian.
CraftyCaterer 2 years ago
OP says themselves that the restaurant states " ALMOST ANY DISH CAN BE MADE VEGETARIAN " on their website. So, YES, they are Vegan/ vegetarian friendly therefore, to my understanding; NO, they are NOT claiming to be a solely vegan/vegetarian restaurant. The use of fish/shellfish products is a red herring (pun unintended) Where I live and work (UK) all allergens must be marked on the menu by law , even if this isn't the case where the op is located it could be suggested to the owners as a positive idea. OP also says they have other issues with the job, so is this all just an excuse to justify leaving?
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