Allergic

This is a great letter. You've specified your problem, and a way to
fix it. Instead of criticizing the business, you've just re-itterated
the need for allergy awareness in resturants. Not only is it important
to get an order to a guest correctly, but it is just as important to
not take short-cuts. I have worked in the food industry for years, and
it is habit for me to ask if there is a food allergy associated with
why a particular guest, for example, doesn't want onions. I am glad to
hear that you weren't any sicker than noted above, and really hope
that if nothing else, KFC is now aware of the importance of
recognizing allergies.

I think this is a really good letter, and I'm glad you didn't get too
sick. I think it's a good idea to make sure you speak up about your
allergy in the future. It sounds like a simple mistake on the part of
whoever put your meal together, and while I think they should have
used a fresh plate, it probably never occurred to them that they were
potentially putting you in danger. A good thing to remind KFC of
though!

Well written. Factual and direct.

Also, good advice for those with food allergies, make sure to let them
know why you want to make an exchange, if and allergy is the case. At
the very least they will tell you they "can't guarantee that food
won't be contaminated" (Hey, at least you'll know) but in most cases
the restaurant will be willing to do their absolute best to
accommodate you.

I'm fortunate to have not discovered any food allergies, but I can't
tell you the number of times I've had similar issues. Usually it's
actually because the scoop bins for the materials are right next to
each other and people get sloppy. Good luck and I'm glad it didn't
turn out too serious.

I often run into problems at Mexican restaurants because I am allergic
to avocados. I always let them know that it is important to skip the
guacamole because I have a severe allergy. Sometimes, I can see where
the avocado has been removed from my food and I still have to send it
back because even a small amount is enough to cause problems. At
least my allergen is bright green and I usually catch it!

wonderful letter.

Good letter Lucy! I think it was written very well and absolutely
didn't have any unreasonable demands.

I'm surprised that I've never heard of people suing a restaurant over
allergies. I know of someone who has terrible allergies and I've told
him he's the perfect walking lawsuit. What if he ordered something
plain but got it with something he was allergic to?

I thought this was a really good letter. I probably would have been
more upset. I bet KFC will take this seriously because you were so
calm and polite, and didn't demand freebies or threaten them with
litigation.

As someone in a similar situation (both my son and I have some
life-threatening allergies) I sympathize.

The approach of simply saying "no cole slaw, as I'm allergic" is a
smart one. Most people wouldn't think twice and assume that you just
PREFER mac&cheese and wouldn't think that this was a serious problem.

Restaurants do tend to be lax about letting things touch, mix, etc.
Even the nicest place is likely to have situations where things get
mixed. Or mixed up.

I've had cases where the server, manager, whoever... has said "if
you're allergic, I can't guarantee that there's been no contamination.
If you're concerned, you might not want to eat here."

There's a reason, after all, why many packaged foods say "produced in
a plant with peanuts" (or whatever). There's a chance that some
residue might have ended up in something that's not supposed to
contain peanuts.

It's scary, if you have a severe allergy. If so, you need to ensure
that you take every precaution (even carrying an Epipen), notify
people of the allergy, and maybe even insist that a clean serving
spoon and pan be used to cook your food.

Glad to here this one didn't end up so bad.

P.S. I don't like cole slaw. It'd be grossed out if they mixed it
with mashed potatoes. So, allergy or not, this is (to me) gross and
sloppy.

Exactly. If you are allergic to any kind of food or an ingredient let
them know. It saves them from liability and you from having a
reaction.

I also ask before I order if I can substitute or if it is a sandwich
or salad that it be made without cheese. Most places will let you,
some will make you pay extra for the substitution of sides.

Let the server know of your allergy. It makes people aware and also
liable. Glad to hear you made it through though.

I can't take anything related to penicillin, like amoxocillin (sp?).
I can take Tetracycline, Erythromycin, Zithomax, Vancomycin and some
others, although Erythromycin makes me very sick. RxGirl could
probably answer that better. My reaction to PCN was especially bad, I
had 104 fever and a head to toe rash. It was August and there was
talk of putting me in the hospital if my fever didn't come down. I
was going into 6th grade at the time. I have two older sisters (and
had a younger one) who were also allergic but their reactions were not
as bad. The doctor told my younger sister to just assume she was
allergic to it. This is also a big pain because I have to
pre-medicate for dental appoinments because of my hip prostetics.

The latex allergy can be bad, I had a progressivly worse reaction each
time I was exposed to it. The last one sent me to the ER. Luckily a
lot of doctors and hospitals are starting to use more and more vinyl.
I still request first surgery to limit my exposure and question
everyone who approaches me with a glove on their hand. My dentist is
very good and changes everything in the room when I come in, even the
little things they put over the light. One of the hygenists came in
and touched something with her latex gloves on and he had them change
everything again.

You sound like you've been through the wringer medically as have I.
It really is a pain to have to question everything but it's what you
have to do.

BTW..welcome to PFB. I hope you stick around, you sound like you have
a lot to contribute.

I didn't even realize tetracycline was related to penicillin. I never
knew how many medicines one allergy could affect before.

You know, what's great about this? We're writing and reading letters,
but we're learning as well. There's always opportunties to learn
something new if you are open to them.

Have you tried Cleocin (Clindamycin) for the dental procedures? Also
Erythromycin is VERY hard on the stomach, it causes that reaction in
alot of people, Erythromycin related Biaxin and Zithromax are easier
on the stomach and have to be taken fewer times per day, Biaxin is
usually twice daily while Zithromax is usually once daily for 5 days
(but may vary depending on what you are being treated for).

Please note also if you are allergic to Levaquin, then you should
probably avoid all fluroquinolones like Avelox, Cipro, Floxin etc.

I'm glad you're feeling better! It is very important when you order
food and want to change something because of an allergy to always
state that it's an allergy.
The restaurant that I work in serves coleslaw with all our dinners and
often people say "no coleslaw, I don't like it". When it gets busy
sometimes the cook doesn't remember (it's so automatic) and put slaw
on the plate. If they just don't like it, I'll either take it off, or
apologize and tell them to just leave it on the plate.
However, if it's an allergy, I put it in huge writing and mention to
the cook about the allergy.

Wow... Yet another reason for me not to eat at KFC.

I'm glad you were alright, and let me say that you're a lot calmer
than most people would be at a situation like this.

Very good letter and I'm glad you were ok.

Lucy,

I've noticed you have a few letters here, including the one I
responded to about Wal-Mart. You must have just discovered
Planetfeedback, so I wanted to take a second and say welcome.

So far your letters have been well written and reasonable, including
this one. Please feel free to comment on other letters as well.

Again, welcome!

Good thing you were sensible and took the benedryl. I'm glad it
wasn't worse for you.

I agree, they need to be careful when someone makes a specific
suggestion to not mess a plate with another food then switch it to
save time or containers.