Now I can't order a rare cheeseburger?!!

[szweig]

Lat Sunday in Long Beach, California, I stopped by a popular watering hole for a sandwich and a beer. I ordered the $8.95 1/2 pound cheeseburger. The bartender asked how I wanted it cooked. "Medium-rare" said I. She then informed me that it was their policy not to serve burgers less than medium. I replied that it was MY policy not to eat them more than medium-rare. She informed me that there was a new city/county (I'm not sure which) ordinance that requires restaurants to cook burgers to 165 degrees (medium). After a short go-round I left. I wandered a few blocks to a Rock Bottom Brewpub. They said no problem to a rare burger.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I assume you mean Applebees, they did the same thing to me here in Albuquerque. No more business for them.

[aomagrat]

This is just the begining. Soon all food will have to be prepared according to government regulations. Since many people prepare food in their own homes, the next step will be the government preparing all food. Once the government controls the food supply, total abolition of all personal freedom follows. Submit or starve.

[ahmedtousay1]

Thanks for being a sensible one here mlo!

My friend Lance had family that were poisoned during the Jack-in-the-Box e-coli outbreak in the Pacific Northwest.

Eldar Pompov

Topeka, KS

[ikanakattara]

Risk management. I can count on one hand the restaurants I can go to where I am *assured* of a rare hamburger. It's just easier to fire up the grill at home. And they wonder why we're in a recession...

[Protagoras]

It would be bad for government to tell people how to order their burgers and I wouldn't put it past them, but I wouldn't take a waitresses word for what the law is.

BTW, it would be well within the rights of the resturant to not invite a lawsuit or bad publicity associated with sick customers. One report of sick customers can put a place out of business. They ought to have the balls to say that it's their policy instead of hiding behind the law.

[isthisnickcool]

I heard Madonna's husband had a similiar but opposite complaint. But he wanted the darn thing cooked before he would eat it. Well done, hold the skank!

[TheBigB]

Respectfully, incorrect. As a biologist by training, I know that even small amounts of contamination can make one seriously ill. Not -will-, but -can-. I personally have a friend who ate a burger fom a McD's nearby that was undercooked. He was healthy as can be, in his mid-20s. He was sick with E.coli poisoning for over a week.

[JRandomFreeper]

It's also the law in Texas. There is a clause that the customer can ask for eggs sunny-side up, or rare hamburger and the establishment can serve it after giving the customer information about the possible dangers.

/john

[Poohbah]

Actually, it's the pub owner protecting himself from people with compromised immune systems suing him for serving them a rare cheeseburger. Notice that the place down the street had no issues...it ain't a county ordinance.

[alpowolf]

Some people will laugh at your post and sneer about tinfoil hats, but there have been little old ladies busted at county fairs for selling pies they made in their home kitchens.

[eastsider]

I was at work on Saturday and had to order in. I ordered my burger from someplace I hadn't ordered from before but which was recommended. I ordered it RARE. It came back baby-bottom brown, through and through. When I called to complain, they, too, cited health reasons. So, I went out to pick up my own from some place that serves 'em squirming on the plate, and gave the first one to some unusually appreciative street person (which made me feel pretty good).

I order my eggs sunnyside up, too. Bon appetit.

[Navy Patriot]

Excellent point, and the nanny service delivered, at great cost, is of low quality or worthless to the productive citizens of the "Peoples Republic of California".

[A CA Guy]

No, I am thinking person who heard of all the Jack In The Box food poisionings and sees how a burger place feels the need to make sure the food is cooked.

$8.95 for a burger. What a rip. Long Beach is Snoop Doggy Dog land. Burgers should be going for about $1 there.

[ambrose]

"Yummy"

[flushed with pride]

The legislative push to regulate 'meat cooking temps' and the like is driven by labor unions who want to organize in western and midwestern states where the nations largest slaughter/packing houses are located, and are for the most part, non-union. The idea is to create silly, over-regulation at the local level regarding how meat is cooked so that folks such as yourself will become irritated by it and demand a solution. The union steps in and says, 'Well if these meat processing facilities weren't such a toilet [which they aren't], and if there were enough properly trained personnel [read: bloated, inefficient, union payroll] to work in them, the meat you buy would be squeaky clean and you could have your rare burger.'
In other words, if the union has it's way, look for that burger to cost you $15.00 in the future.

[randog]

...burgers burnt to the consistency of shoe leather.

Can't do that, either. Causes stomach cancer according to the no-fun-allowed crowd.

[Maceman]

Don't you mean - sunny-side up? :-)

That too. But, as you know, over easy eggs also have runny yolks. (I'm a scrambled egg man myself).

[eastsider]

Very mooooving picture. Thank you. : )

[Lurking Libertarian]

If they want my rare hamburger they will have to pry it from my dead, greasy fingers!

[WindMinstrel]

that's the law in my community too. Gotta love it -- we need more regulations.