Posted on 03/22/2014 8:39:25 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
A new Maryland bill would let counties require each restaurant to have a staff member trained on food allergens, ready to advise customers. Is the measure needed?
County governments may soon have authority to make restaurants accommodate customers with food allergies.
A new bill would let counties require each restaurant to have a staff member trained on food allergens, ready to advise customers, reports WJLA TV. The bill would also require restaurants statewide to encourage customers to notify servers about their food allergies.
The Senate passed the measure 33-14 Monday evening. A similar bill is pending in a House committee.
Restaurants could post an advisory on the menu, asking customers with allergies to notify their servers. Or the server could ask before taking customers' orders, says CBS DC.
The Senate version, introduced by Sen. Jamie Raskin of Montgomery County, would not apply to service stations or vendors at carnivals and fairs.
Maryland "Freak State" PING!
I’m getting allergic to Maryland
I would like for the state of Maryland to school zipper manufacturers on how to caution men who have foreskins. Makes just as much sense.
Monty Co., called it!
This country is all getting absurd and insane.
Well, that’s gonna put countless restaurants out of business.
Delicious! The law states the restaurant must notify customers that customers must notify the restaurant of allergies.
Teaching servers that “No XYZ, I’m allergic” does not mean “extra XYZ” would be a good thing. But it should be common sense, not a government regulation.
no kidding.......and don’t for a minute think some people will dream up allergies just so they can sue restaurants....the onus will always be on the restaurant....
Why stop there? How ‘bout they take a complete medical history from each customer, check cholesterol level, blood pressure and body mass index? Then the customer could be handed a computerized Michelle Menu that that directs the idiot to a more healthy diet.
No fries for you, Bubble Butt!
That is stupid for a law. Most restaurants are so scared of lawsuits that they already make adjustments and have lists of allergens and will prepare food differently if needed. MrR has severe food allergies and when we ask about what they fry in or if they could do something because of his allergies they are more than willing to help.
Of course, they are handled by being tossed to the curb!
Nanny State PING!
Most laws having been written, I think legislatures come up with this sort of crap solely to justify their continued existence. And the sheeple buy it.
And yet, it is STILL against someones ‘civil rights’ to ask for proof of their legitimacy to vote.
MAKE everyone get a card with a chip putting all their maladies and allergies on it.
Upon entering an eating establishment, present said card to be swiped with the data going to the kitchen computer and when customer places his order the kitchen computer will reject it if appropriate. Knowing they will go overboard and reject the order if ANY chance of violating.
This will cause a delay in ordering so it will be hours before the complete order can be filled. If someone in YOUR party is allergic to peanuts NO peanut by product will be allowed at YOUR table or the tables adjoining yours as we don’t want to chance wind borne peanut flecks getting to the ‘wrong’ plate.
So, with the servers now getting 20 per hr minimum wage and it taking 3 or more hours to get served, the prices will have to be raised to accommodate the wage and dead time in restaurant. This will cause the tip to be raised to 30 or 40% so a meal out will cost as much as tickets for 5 to the Super Bowl.
Of course we could also use the ‘HEALTH CARD’ to be shown when going to vote BUT that will be deemed ‘insulting’ the voter.
And the beat goes on....and on....and on....etc etc
this state of Maryland is beyond believable..rules, laws, and crooks running the state...
Yeah. I don’t see how any restaurant (very slim profit margins already!) could possibly afford to take on this liability. I suppose they could request customers to sign a waiver when placing an order.
“Well, thats gonna put countless restaurants out of business.”
Having someone get training in food allergies will put restaurants out of business?
There are many people with food allergies. Some of these people don’t eat in restaurants now, because it’s risky. Having someone in the restaurant who can explain that the nut dishes are prepared separately, that the seafood fryolator is not he one they use for french fries, that they don’t use milk in the breading on the fish, means more customers. Being told “don’t order the cheesecake if you are allergic to chocolate” avoids trouble and builds trust (trust= repeat customers).
Having someone die (or more likely lose a week out of work) because the waitsaff didn’t understand the risk will put a restaurant out of business faster than not training staff. Bertucci’s chain had a problem when a patron (Janet Walker) asked if their pesto was made with nuts- the waitress had been told not to reveal recipes and said no- the patron died from a nut allergy. The original wrongful death suit was over 10 million, settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. A little training would have avoided that.
This will cut back on the willingness of restaurants to accommodate allergy sufferers. To be safe, they’ll just say what a lot of food packages say — that the food is prepared in the same kitchen as eggs, nuts, milk, etc. and “trace quantities may be present.” No need to have a maven present.
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