[babygrey]

<p>I have hyperemesis and am having a hard time gaining weight. I'm pretty much surviving by indulging random high-calorie cravings. Last night, ice cream sounded good. I took the kids to an ice cream parlor inside the local children's museum bc they have 25 cent cones on weeknights, and that's about what fits in our budget.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I got vanilla with a raspberry puree sauce on it and got toddler DD the same. It tasted a little funny, but bc of the HEG things taste weird. The sauce is basically fruit put in a blender w/ sugar.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We happened to be sitting at the counter near the trash can. Just as we were about to leave, I saw the server pick up the bottle of raspberry sauce. She smelled it and pulled a really disgusted face and threw it in the trash can. I said "um, excuse me, did we just eat bad food?" She looked at me kind of blankly and said "oh. yeah. I guess so. Someone forgot to check it today." Like it was no big deal. I must have had a really horrified look on my face, bc she said "Do you want something else instead?" um. no. I want to not have eaten rotten fruit.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I didn't really know what to do, bc we had already finished, so I just said no thanks and got the kids in their coats. The manager came up to me before we left and offered us a refund (82 cents. and, yes, I took it). He explained that he sauce was supposed to be made every day fresh bc it goes bad really fast, but no one had made it since yesterday morning and no one checked it today until after they served it to us and noticed it smelled funny (it was nearly 8pm at this point). He went on and on about how quickly the fruit rots in the sugar syrup. He did say it was their policy to check they syrup at least twice a day and make it daily and that was mistake, but he acted like it was totally no big deal</p>
<p>We took the 82 cents and left. I did hear manager giving server a verbal lashing about not checking the sauce as we were walking out.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Um. okay. I've known plenty of people who work in food service (and I remember the horror stories thread on here a while back) so I'm not so much shocked that this happened, as I am shocked that they would treat it like it was no big deal. Serving customers rotten food seems like a big deal to me. Not checking for food safety per your own policy seems like a big deal to me.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Am I hormonal and over-reacting or is this a big deal?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>For those w/ experience- is checking food by smell really up to par with food safety standards??</p>
<p> </p>
<p>How would you handle this? I'm thinking I should call the health dept? It is a super bummer, bc this parlor is really the only place we can afford to go out and the kids really love it. Now it feels icky to me.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm on a ton of anti-nausea meds, so I'm not sure if I could tell if I actually got sick. DD had a super-icky diaper today, but seems otherwise okay and I've had an extra-queasy day, but that might not be related at all (or could just be in my head from worrying...)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>DH is mad. (he wasn't there- so he only got my hysterical version when I came home thinking we all would have food poisoning) He thinks that the children's museum who owns the ice cream parlor should be notified and we should ask for some sort of compensation. Gma buys us a membership there every year for xmas- he thinks we should ask for them to comp our membership this year. IDK, that seems kind of over the top, but it does seem worth a little more than our 82 cents back...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>WWYD?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>ETA: after a super-bad case of it in college, food poisoning is my one major phobia. Really. Super duper phobic. It has taken me YEARS to be able to eat in restaurants. So, that certainly colors my horror about this.</p>

 

[sahli29]

<p>Yea, I think I would be shooting off letters and calls. Sounds like you guys are OK,but what if you had fallen ill? We can all just imagine the finacial and emotional cost that could result from simple laziness on the part of the worker. Does $1 make up for that?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> If you report to the health dept. they might do random checks.If you report to the company/museum they might require better training. It is great that you are ok,but the next family might not be so lucky.People do die from germy food. Sadly we take a risk whether we are buying from a restaurant or from a grocery store. Send a few letters and hope for the best.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I would recommend some LIFEWAY kefir to get some extra healthy bacteria in your gut.</p>

 

[ChristyMarie]

<p>Honestly, I think you might be overreacting a bit.  You ate it.  So did your child.  I would think if it was that off, one of you would not have wanted to eat it or would have questioned it, asked for something else, etc.  My son is super picky about stuff not tasting *right* so I'm really surprised your DD ate it if it was truly rotten </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Plus, it sounds like as soon as they realized something was wrong they dumped it, offered you a refund and offered to replace your purchase with something else.  AND the manager clearly was taking it seriously by speaking to the associate about it immediately.  I'm not sure what else they could have done.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mistakes happen.  But they immediately addressed it and offered you compensation and a new product.  It sounds like they also apologized.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>If it happens again, yeah then maybe a letter.  But from a one time thing that was immediately addressed and corrected?  No, I don't think the health department needs a letter over that.</p>

 

[operamommy]

<p>Another vote for overreacting.  It was an honest mistake, and mistakes happen.  They did the right thing by apologizing immediately, giving you a refund, and speaking to the employee responsible.  In no way shape or form do you deserve to be "compensated" because you ate something a bit off that didn't cause any harm to you or your child. </p>

 

[Tarielena]

<p>Not related to the service you received, but I always thought sugar acted as a preservative?  Such as in jams?  So I don't quite understand the concept that the raspberries are "rotting" in the sugar in a DAY.  Was the syrup left out or refrigerated?  Even if it was left out, I made jam a couple months ago with my mom, and the instructions said to chop up the plums, then leave them out on the counter for 24 hours with a thick layer of sugar over top to pull all the juices out.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It might be the kind of product that TASTES best fresh, but I highly doubt that there was anything at all wrong with it in regards to safety.  I understand being paranoid about that kind of stuff, I haven't had food poisoning but I am still pretty paranoid myself.  I constantly call my mom and ask her "hey I've had X in my fridge Y amount of days, can I still use it?"  So I hope you can feel a bit better and not worry about you and your son eating something bad.  Like I said, however, I'm not trying to address or justify the service you received.</p>

 

[laohaire]

<p>I agree with the PP, raspberries mixed with sugar is not likely something that will really hurt anybody even if left out for a day and a half. It's how jam is made. I can understand it tasting "off" but I'm sure you guys are fine.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I think the manager took it seriously. He was not going to go "oh no!!! you ate the sauce!!! we are SO SO SO SORRY!! are you feeling ok???" First, it really isn't too big of a deal given that they took it seriously - no health risks or anything. Next, he isn't going to react so strongly as to make you think things are worse than they really are. His reaction was in line with the event, and he would be a bad manager if he overreacted and scared you and anyone witnessing your conversation.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'd be satisfied with the resolution. And next time I ate there, I would definitely not eat if something tasted off </p>

 

[Linda on the move]

<p>I wouldn't eat there again. It's knee jerk re-action, but I just wouldn't.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But I wouldn't give it any more energy. I'd let it go. Life's too short. Yeah, it was a bad experience. It's icky. The more energy you put into it, the bigger it gets. Move on.</p>

 

[Lauren82]

<p>I have gotten horrible food poisoning from restaurants before, so I don't take food safety lightly. I don't think you're overreacting at all. I would definitely be cautious of eating there again in the future. If you call the health department, they usually come out and do a random inspection. That might be a good kick in the pants to remind the manager and employees that they need to stay on top of proper safety practices. As for the manager, I think he did a good job of handling the situation.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While it is unlikely to get ill from a fruit and sugar mixture, I still think that's not a good excuse. If  the ice cream parlor is not staying on top of changing out their toppings, what else are they slacking on?</p>

 

[limabean]

<p>I think their response was satisfactory. </p>

 

[Strong Mama]

<p>I dont think other posters are getting it.....yeah, she didn't get sick, things were fine but what if it was the ice cream itself that was bad, or any thing else in the place that COULD make you sick??? The palor obviously needs a good telling off from the health dept, just so they can stay on top of things, they can consider this a close call. Babygrey, I am a food phobic like you, and I would definitely call the health department and report this. Like now.</p>

 

[Attila the Honey]

<p>It's my understanding that fruit in sugar won't actually rot and become harmful, but will actually ferment and the main issue will be taste.  I think the parlor responded satisfactorily and I don't think you were in any danger at all.  I wouldn't bother calling the health dept., there is nothing they can do - the issue was handled when it was discovered.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I feel your pain, though.  I once ate a couple bites of fermenting mandarin oranges on a buffet - not pleasant!  I didn't get sick but I still remember that taste.  :/</p>

 

[cappuccinosmom]

<p>Um, but the ice cream wasn't bad, and the "bad" fruit didn't make anyone sick.  The manager acknowledged the mistake, went through how it happened, apologized, and dealt with the employee who made the mistake.  I'm not sure how he was supposed to respond that would make it a big deal, aside from wailing in remorse. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>1 incident does not a health-department-call make, especially when it is handled appropriately, as it was.  As long as there are human employees in food service, there will be incidents of human error, no matter how tightly things are controlled. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>OP, I'd let it go.  I can understand not wanting to eat there again, and that is perfectly reasonable.  However, I think that fruit in sugar syrup is probably the least likely thing to make you sick even if it's been out all day, given that sugar is preservative.  I think perhaps "bad" and "rotten" were terms that might not have been entirely accurate.  You or your daughter would have noticed if the fruit had been actually rotten, and not just a little "off". </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Compensation other than the refund?  For what?  I think that is an overreaction on your dh's part, maybe prompted by your heightened hysteria and not feeling well already?</p>

 

[Owen'nZoe]

<p>I have to agree with the posters who suggest letting it go. You know, some people do ferment their fruits on purpose for the health benefits (or alcohol ), and fermented fruit (not spoiled fruit) is essentially what you got. It sounds to me like the manager did everything he could to make it right - I'd be happy with his response.</p>

 

[*bejeweled*]

<div class="quote-container" data-huddler-embed="/community/forum/thread/1280226/bad-ice-cream-parlor-experience-how-to-handle#post_16055569" data-huddler-embed-placeholder="false"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Linda on the move</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1280226/bad-ice-cream-parlor-experience-how-to-handle#post_16055569"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif"></a><br><br><p>I wouldn't eat there again. It's knee jerk re-action, but I just wouldn't.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But I wouldn't give it any more energy. I'd let it go. Life's too short. Yeah, it was a bad experience. It's icky. The more energy you put into it, the bigger it gets. Move on.</p>
</div>
</div>
<br><img alt="yeahthat.gif" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/yeahthat.gif"> Be grateful that you are all fine. Let it go.

 

[velochic]

<p>I think they reacted entirely appropriately and with the level of seriousness it warrants.  I do think you are completely overreacting.  This is worth the refund of the ice cream, but absolutely not $100+ refund of membership.  If you had actually gotten sick, that would be one thing. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Typically, if food is really *spoiled*, most people won't eat it (because it tastes REALLY off).  If it's *contaminated*, you probably won't taste it and would not be the only "victim".  Spoiled food won't hurt you.  Contaminated food will.  It wasn't contaminated.  It probably wasn't even spoiled... just a little old.</p>

 

[LemonPie]

<p>I think you're overreacting too.  As a PP said, it's more likely the sauce was a little 'fermented' rather than rotten.  They apologized, issued you a refund, educated the employee.  Sounds like a perfectly reasonable response to what happened.  </p>

 

[babygrey]

<p>Quote:</p>
<div class="quote-container">
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Strong Mama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1280226/bad-ice-cream-parlor-experience-how-to-handle#post_16055947"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>I dont think other posters are getting it.....yeah, she didn't get sick, things were fine but what if it was the ice cream itself that was bad, or any thing else in the place that COULD make you sick??? The palor obviously needs a good telling off from the health dept, just so they can stay on top of things, they can consider this a close call. Babygrey, I am a food phobic like you, and I would definitely call the health department and report this. Like now.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p>So, this is sort of how I'm feeling about it. I think those who suggested I'm kinda over-reacting are probably right- in the emotional omg reaction sense. But, even when I think about it logically- it seems like calling the health dept is warranted. No, I didn't get sick, but the parlor admittedly violated one of their own safety standards and what if they are violating others that no one has caught? (perhaps it is pertinent to mention they also run a deli style restaurant attached to the parlor during the day)</p>
<p>I mean, it seems kind of like an obligation to future patrons to me to just have them checked in on. Maybe I'm overthinking this, but if someone knew that a eating establishment was taking shortcuts and didn't report it and I later got sick there, I would just be so sad/mad that they hadn't spoken up.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I admit I've no experience in this issue-- Is there something awful about calling the health dept that I'm not understanding? I mean, all they do is bump the place up on their radar for a bit, right? If the place is actually safe, then would it really be a big deal? (and if they are not up to safety standards, wouldn't it be really good that I called?)</p>
<p><br>
 </p>

 

[MusicianDad]

<p>Um... Wow...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>That is a <em>huge</em> deal. I don't think you are overreacting. The manager needs to make sure these things don't happen <em>at all</em>. Chances are you won't get sick from it, but I personally would not eat there again. I've been in the food service industry, as a server and a manager, as a manager you better believe that anything that needed to be watched so we can toss it before it goes bad got watched. By the employees under my management <em>and</em> by me. When it comes to things that people ingest, there is absolutely no room for error, one mistake could kill.</p>

 

[babygrey]

<p>   Quote:</p>
<div class="quote-container">
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>velochic</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1280226/bad-ice-cream-parlor-experience-how-to-handle#post_16056967"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>I think they reacted entirely appropriately and with the level of seriousness it warrants.  I do think you are completely overreacting.  This is worth the refund of the ice cream, but absolutely not $100+ refund of membership.  If you had actually gotten sick, that would be one thing. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Typically, if food is really *spoiled*, most people won't eat it (because it tastes REALLY off).  If it's *contaminated*, you probably won't taste it and would not be the only "victim".  Spoiled food won't hurt you.  Contaminated food will.  It wasn't contaminated.  It probably wasn't even spoiled... just a little old.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p>I agree that DH is out of line thinking we should ask for a membership refund. We won't do that.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>On the taste thing- I have nasty 'metal mouth' from HEG. Honestly, nothing has tasted normal for months. Combine that w/ my food paranoia (I ALWAYS think things taste 'off' and I'm always wrong ) and I certainly could have eaten something that really did taste off and convince myself it was okay. and DD? well, she makes regular practice of eating cat food if someone forgets to shut the laundry room door and one time I found her enjoying a tube of butt rash cream. Not the most refined palette. :lol</p>
<p> </p>
<p>On the spoiled vs contaminated thing. I totally get what you and pps are saying about the food probably just being bad tasting. However, I think the real issue for me is that they weren't following their own safety standards and then they acted like not doing so wasn't a big deal. In the end, that kind of attitude puts people at risk, even if we weren't at risk. To me, purchasing food in public is a huge relationship of trust and this just violated that trust.</p>

 

[34me]

<p>My dh is in food safety at a major food company and I am a letter writer .  I would probably not call the Health Dept (she says after <em>just</em> checking the health inspections from local restaurants) but I would write a letter to the concessions/restaurant manager. </p>