Wagamamas seem to have put nuts in my food...

oojeyboojey

The weekend before last I treated myself to a raw salad at Wagamamas. Later that day, I experienced nut intolerance symptoms (for me, these are the same as acute food poisoning, so I was on the loo with a bucket for the next day!)

Since my husband didn't get sick, I'm sure it wasn't a virus, and I prepared all the other food I ate that day, which indicated that the Wagamamas meal was the culprit. I double checked the menu online, and it appeared that they'd put the wrong garnish on my raw salad - it was something crunchy that had been deep-fried, and I worked out it was probably intended for a different salad, one that has cashew nuts in (I'm particularly sensitive to cashews).

I wrote an email to them to complain, and I asked that their staff be re-briefed on the dangers of nut contamination. I got a letter from them yesterday that didn't say much, really - they never accepted blame, and suggested that the garnish was actually fried shallots (ha!) but they sent me £40 worth of vouchers.

Now I don't know if I should use them at wagamamas - I used to love eating there, and I'm wondering if it would be safe to go again, or if I should sell the vouchers on ebay.

What do you folks reckon?

Markyt

I reckon you've had the norovirus, and it's a coincidence.

Gingernutmeg

If you have a severe food intolerance, it's perhaps your responsibility to emphasise that to the staff. I accept that Wagamama's may have put nuts on your food accidentally, but it's not a nut free restaurant and there's every possibility of cross-contamination - maybe the staff put a nut garnish on something, didn't wash their hands or their spoon thoroughly and then put your garnish on, or maybe some sesame oil was put on your dish. I've been to Wagamamas a few times and the dishes do change depending on who makes them, sometimes you get one garnish, sometimes another, I think it's to do with what's available.

Food intolerances are terrible and you do have my sympathy, but restaurants don't know about them unless you tell them. If it's something that's going to make you ill, then you should double/triple check with the staff before you eat it, or maybe avoid restaurants that you know serve something that you're intolerant to. Unless it guarantees that a dish it nut free in a menu, then a restaurant really can't be held responsible if you eat it without checking.

RadoJo

Did you let them know about your intolerance when you ordered?

dmg24

Their menu does state that you need to tell the server of any intolerances.

I would also consider that it was possibly the sickness bug.

SaraSeahorse

two people can eat same meal and one person not get ill for example campylobacter may be on one piece of chicken and not another - it does not automatically follow if one gets ill and not another that it is intolerance and not something else.

One person can get stomach bug and not another in same household doesn't mean it is something you have eaten.

chuckley

£40 vouchers?? WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW

V_tricky

I have the raw salad when I go, and it is definately fried shallots as the garnish (half the reason I buy it actually as they're yummy for me!)

However - that doesn't actually tell you what OIL the shallots have been fried in - perhaps it could be peanut oil?

bribri_2

I'm not in a position to comment on what you experienced because you will know how you react to nuts.

For me however it is immediate. I eat a little bit of nut something and get a taste in my mouth and soon I am ready to retch.

If it was me I would have to consider other explanations because it would not occur in the form - "Later that day, I experienced nut intolerance symptoms"

oojeyboojey

bribri wrote: »

I'm not in a position to comment on what you experienced because you will know how you react to nuts.

For me however it is immediate. I eat a little bit of nut something and get a taste in my mouth and soon I am ready to retch.

If it was me I would have to consider other explanations because it would not occur in the form - "Later that day, I experienced nut intolerance symptoms"

I know it's different for everyone, but for me I start getting bloating, gas, stomach cramps, vomiting and sometimes diarrhea about 1 - 4 hours after eating nuts (I think it must happen when my food reaches a particular point in my gut - very disgusting I know!) Accompanied by these symptoms are migraine, general "wobbliness" and terrible aching in my stomach, and foul-smelling burps. (Aren't I painting a lovely picture, lol!)

I did consider that it may have been a virus, but nobody I know has been sick so I thought it was unlikely, and I wash my hands all the time. Also, my symptoms were consistent with my intolerance, and when I eventually was sick, all that came up was the wagamamas meal. My gut bloated so much that it seriously looked like I was about 8 months pregnant (I'm a skinny person) - this always happens when I get a nut reaction.

Thanks for your opinions, guys! I usually do mention my nut intolerance (it's a reflex) but I can't remember if I mentioned it to the waitress or not - it's like trying to remember if you locked the front door or not, it's such a habit that you do it without thinking. Their menu doesn't state that dishes may contain traces of nuts, although they say "if you have a particular dietary requirement your server will be happy to assist you".

Well at any rate, however it was that I got sick, I still would like to know what you'd do with the vouchers (use them at Wagamamas or sell them).

RadoJo

To be honest, if you can't be sure that you told them about your intolerance, then I don't see the problem with going there again and making sure you mention it - most places are really good about nut allergies in particular (and if you have ever seen anyone go into anaphalactic shock, you'll know why!) so even if there isn't anything on the menu, it's worth mentioning to them that you do have an allergy/intolerance, just so they can keep an extra eye on your order.
If you can't get the thought of the last meal out of your head, then by all means sell them, but if you do go for the e-bay route, I wouldn't mention the circumstances of obtaining them as you can't be sure whether they were wrong or not and you wouldn't want to paint them in a bad light if it was just a substitution or cross contamination in ignorance of your dietary requirements.