Not allowed to take birthday cake to daughters party?

LEJC

krustylouise wrote: »

But this is the first ever time I have heard of this in any food establishment, ever. I grew up in public houses and restaurants and NEVER EVER heard of this!

Its something that has started on the back of compensation claims and is probably quite new....years ago this type of thing never happened but its the way things are now.

peachyprice

krustylouise wrote: »

But this is the first ever time I have heard of this in any food establishment, ever. I grew up in public houses and restaurants and NEVER EVER heard of this! It's ludicrous and I think it's personal opinion as to how much they really want your custom.

Would like to point out my friends daughter had it there.....and tool her own cake! I mentioned this to the woman who said the rules had suddenly changed!

It really isn't that unusual in places that cater for children, I can think of a fair few here that have this policy.

I guess being used to I can't see what the big deal is, but if this is the first time you've come across it in 6 years you've done well.

Valli

LEJC wrote: »

Its something that has started on the back of compensation claims and is probably quite new....years ago this type of thing never happened but its the way things are now.

My point already answered - thanks

This is exactly it - all these people claiming for compensation.

It *may* even be a requirement of their business insurance that all food consumed on their premises comes from their kitchen.

peachyprice

sillygoose wrote: »

What next? search patting down the kids on the way in?

"what's that in your pocket sunshine? put the Reese Peanut bar down on the hazard containment mat and step away now!"

Not so far fetched actually, DD has been on Brownies days out where a girl in the pack had a severe nut allergy, all packed lunches were checked for nut products before leaving and offending food stuffs were taken out.

Air_Cooled_75

Sorry if it's been mentioned before but are they saying they are actually going to bake the cake themselves? Im guessing they will buy some cheap supermarket / cash and carry job in.

Also, about not being able to take cake away and the left overs had to be binned, who ever eats wedding cake at the reception? (I know the example was a birthday bash)

LEJC

Its a situation that not only is associated with childrens parties but it also affects the elderly in nursing homes....many nursing homes will only serve their residents food that has been sourced by them....so you cant even take in something for gran or grandad when you visit,let alone a birthday cake.

orlao

By the sound of it the cafe are only following the latest guidance from Environmental Heath Officers (EHOs) from the local council.



Strictly speaking they are correct as under the Food Safety Act 1990 they are responsible for any products served on their premises including anything they buy from other suppliers. They check that their suppliers are following the correct/legal procedures , that supplier checks their own suppliers and so on all the way back to the raw material or farm gate. If you provide your own cake you technically become a supplier (even though no money has changed hands ) but the cafe has no way of checking that your kitchen is clean, you have a food safety certificate or the ingredients are correctly listed (all of which are legal requirements) and can be held liable.

http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/fsactguidefoodbusiness.pdf

Note the sections about labelling, traceability and 'free supply'!

There have been a lot of changes in the law since 1999 in particular and they have now started to be enforced by EHOs - as a result even smaller businesses are having to comply...

orlao

Air_Cooled_75 wrote: »

Also, about not being able to take cake away and the left overs had to be binned, who ever eats wedding cake at the reception? (I know the example was a birthday bash)

Again it's because of the FSA - if it contains dairy (for example) that has to refrigerated at below 8 degrees and once it has been out of a fridge more than 20 minutes legally it has to be consumed or binned after 4 hours. No exceptions allowed unless it is removed from the premises (sold) under 4 hours from service in which case the responsibility passes to the buyer. In the case above I think the person was staying at the hotel?

sillygoose

peachyprice wrote: »

It really isn't that unusual in places that cater for children, I can think of a fair few here that have this policy.

I guess being used to I can't see what the big deal is, but if this is the first time you've come across it in 6 years you've done well.

Must be regional or something... in many dozens of parties of my own kids and their friends have never seen this, quite the opposite.

My wife who is an accomplished cake maker (makes many posh wedding and special event cakes a year) and would be mortified if she was denied the pleasure of providing a cake for ours children, she gets many kids cake requests a year too - all presented with lit candles at the venues... even local authority places where there is usually somebody with a clipboard to say no to everything.

Really, just take your custom to someone who actually wants it.

miss_independent

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Actually, I think this is true. "Buffet" food cannot be doggy bagged up, although I think a la carte can be.

It wasn't a buffet, it was a sit down 3 course meal that included a dessert. Then my cake came out and I wasn't ready for it and neither were most of my guests so I asked for it to be cut so we could take it back home/to hotel rooms. It was only my cake I asked to take away - I wouldn't dream of asking for a doggy bag at a Michelin starred restaurant :eek:.

As has been suggested, the cake did contain alot of Fresh Cream so this is possibly why we weren't allowed to take it out. I had previously thought about a nut allergy, as the restaurant had been closed to other guests for my birthday celebration and so when I took the cake out there was a chance there may have been a guest with a nut allergy staying in the hotel.