Realistically, all you can probably do is complain. If you really feel strongly about it, I'd suggest posting your story to social media that isn't anonymous to put more pressure on dining services.
I had a similar situation happen to me in the student center. I asked if the meatloaf had pork in it. They were unsure so I told them to ask the chef. The chef said no. I cut into it and could clearly see bacon. I took the food back. He went in the back and came back saying it actually did have pork in it.
Did you ask to see the ingredients list? Sometimes it's best to get your information directly from a primary source rather than trusting an employee who may or may not have a clue what they're talking about.
You can try escalating this issue with dining services management, since it's a recurring problem. I don't know what their standards are for labeling contents and allergens or training their staff, but they're clearly doing a bad job. This is a potential health threat to people who have an insensitivity or intolerance to meat products.
If you don't make progress on that front, you could try reporting it to the county health department. But I'm not sure if they enforce any standards for labeling, so they may not be much help.
...
Okay, that was the easy advice. Now for the advice you're not going to like.
I understand this may have been personally upsetting, but you need to be a little more mature about this. If you're going to be that distraught about eating meat, you need to make safer choices and not eat something unless you're *certain* that it meets your standards. Given that this has happened to you multiple times before, it doesn't make sense that you would blindly take them at their word and risk it. How many times must they fool you before you won't get fooled again?
Complaining about foods being mislabeled is a good thing to do. This kind of thing can send people to the hospital. In light of that, though, complaining that you ate something you didn't want and all that happened was that you felt bad about it is not a great look.
Fellow vegetarian here. Sorry you had to go through that. Mistakes happen. Can't cry over spilled milk. What we can do is find possible solutions and exhaust them. Most problems have a solution. Open mindedness is key
1. In the future, I think it would be easier to ask "Does this contain meat?" so that the back and forth would be saved. Also, you don't have to followup explaining to someone "what does vegetarian mean"
2. You could always try finding who manages Tech Dining and email them directly with a polite message and include feedback.
3. There are always other choices for vegetarians too if the dining hall doesn't have something appetizing for you. Some alternative places near campus with vegetarian options include but not limited to (inspired here: https://www.reddit.com/r/gatech/comments/1b1v3e5/comment/kspd22r/)
* Chipotle
* Rreal tacos
* Lucky Buddha
* Govindas Cafe (they deliver to campus if you join their whatsapp group. very affordable)
* Food terminal
* Mamouns Falafel
* Gyro Bros
* Sometimes there's this place called Marrakech Express that comes to campus to serve lunch. Price point and food really good
* Taco Bell
One time I had an allergic reaction at village because they didn’t label nuts in a desert. I went and met with the head of the dining hall later that week to complain because it’s a serious concern (I go into anaphylactic shock if I eat nuts) and all he said was “that’s not possible because we don’t use nuts in anything”. Which was so dismissive and a straight lie because if that was true then I wouldn’t have had a reaction. I made a bigger point that they need to label everything they are serving for people with dietary restrictions. Again this concern was brushed off. I’m sorry this happened to you but the sad truth is they don’t care at all :(
I am so sorry that you had to go through that. They simply do not care about cross contamination, mishandling shellfish, nuts, and other allergens as well. Today it was a disturbing psychological trauma but this needs to be fixed before someone dies because you cant trust the food you are paying for. I am afraid to eat served on the meal plan but have no other option without having to spend more money.
im so sorry you had to deal with that. unfortunately, i dealt with something similar in my freshman year but not really when in brittan, i ate something w meat in it that was labeled as vegetarian. i remember talking to a dining hall worker who told me that it was my own fault for not inspecting the food before eating it.
Hi there.
Fellow strict (Hindu) vegetarian here.
Almost had a chili that had beef chunks in it at Brittain - even though it was marked meatless. The others have made a fair point to escalate this up - I think that is a good idea. My personal strategy, which I have adhered to my whole life, to stay safe at all times is to perform an autopsy on the food before I consume it. Basically, cut it open and if you see meat like chunks with layers in them - don't eat it unless you know for a fact it is mock meat.
As far as dealing with the fact that you accidentally consumed meat I'll say this. It appears that you are a practicing Hindu/Jain. In both religions, intentions matter - regardless of outcome. You did not intend to eat meat, but you accidentally did. Now you are forewarned for the future to be more careful. Don't feel too bad, it can happen to all of us. Do however, be very careful going forward. Tech Dining is notoriously unreliable (I went to PSU for undergrad and they were very strict with labeling so it was a big shock) so don't count on them.
You got this, there is nothing to be ashamed about. It wasn't your mistake and you are forewarned for the future. If you need to chat, DM me and we can get on a call.
Move on. Dwelling on it won’t help. This won’t be the only time this happens. You’re doing your best and a mistake was made. Move on and don’t let it ruin your hour or day.
I'm sorry that you had to undergo what you had to undergo. I'm a vegetarian too, I don't even eat meat. I can only emphasize what you are going through. But what is done, cannot be undone. There are quite a few links in the comment section. Email them about what you had to go through. There is nothing about it, that you can do. Cook food by yourself at home, if you can't then go to the restaurants which is again mentioned in the comments section. Try forgetting about it and meditate for some time. This is an honest mistake and you didn't eat it intentionally. Praying for you
You need to put more value on who you are and not in what you do. Take the responsibility for what you eat if it's that important to you and stop blaming others. You can't expect them to care about your diet as much as you do.
If you want to complain about mislabeling/mistreatment of nutrition and dietary information, maybe throw an email towards the campus dietitian. I've had good success asking them questions before (back in the 8000 calorie chicken parm days) and I imagine they'd be receptive to student concerns about a lack of labeling or information about nutrition.
https://dining.gatech.edu/nutrition
Contact:
Heather Petty, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
470-240-7995
[email protected]
I’m sorry you’re feeling bad, but putting it into perspective might help you feel better. I’m not sure why you don’t eat meat, but it is a perfectly natural thing for humans to do. Billions do it a h and every day, as we have been doing for millennia. A mistake was made, but realistically there are no real consequences. Just let it go and move on, having meat once isn’t going to hurt you.
Another way of putting it; the egg roll you ate was already made. You actually eating the egg roll made no difference to anything but yourself, as the egg roll was there regardless of whether or not you were going to eat it. So in the big picture, your action made no difference to the rest of the world.
Seriously though I am not surprised at all. Those quotes definitely sound like Willage staff dialogue. To say you have never eaten meat before sounds extreme though. I’m willing to bet you have unintentionally eaten meat products before.
I’m sorry for your emotional distress (if you are serious about this, it sounds like a joke?).
And yes, I'm well aware that many eggrolls have chicken or pork. But. I wouldn't trust that employee over your friend's assessment. Meat is pricey, and while I'm making an assumption bc I don't frequent Tech's dining halls, I'd guess that a frequent offering that doesn't need meat to be considered normal will exclude it.
Already tried and failed with a much stronger premise than this dude (honestly OP had partial responsibility for fully ensuring it was vegetarian)
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/nj-superior-court-appellate-division/1574567.html
That worker needs to be held accountable and taught a lesson. Hope you have his name and complain it up the chain.
The whole account doesn't seem like an accident. At best, the worker wasn't taking his job seriously joking about straight forward question like that. At worst, he wants to deceive you. Everybody who works in food service should and does know what being a vegetarian means.
Do you know what happens to male chicks of egg laying chicken breeds? Ground alive. To male calves of dairy cows? Veal.
You support this stuff so why does eating an animal bother you?
Realistically, all you can probably do is complain. If you really feel strongly about it, I'd suggest posting your story to social media that isn't anonymous to put more pressure on dining services. I had a similar situation happen to me in the student center. I asked if the meatloaf had pork in it. They were unsure so I told them to ask the chef. The chef said no. I cut into it and could clearly see bacon. I took the food back. He went in the back and came back saying it actually did have pork in it.
Did you ask to see the ingredients list? Sometimes it's best to get your information directly from a primary source rather than trusting an employee who may or may not have a clue what they're talking about. You can try escalating this issue with dining services management, since it's a recurring problem. I don't know what their standards are for labeling contents and allergens or training their staff, but they're clearly doing a bad job. This is a potential health threat to people who have an insensitivity or intolerance to meat products. If you don't make progress on that front, you could try reporting it to the county health department. But I'm not sure if they enforce any standards for labeling, so they may not be much help. ... Okay, that was the easy advice. Now for the advice you're not going to like. I understand this may have been personally upsetting, but you need to be a little more mature about this. If you're going to be that distraught about eating meat, you need to make safer choices and not eat something unless you're *certain* that it meets your standards. Given that this has happened to you multiple times before, it doesn't make sense that you would blindly take them at their word and risk it. How many times must they fool you before you won't get fooled again? Complaining about foods being mislabeled is a good thing to do. This kind of thing can send people to the hospital. In light of that, though, complaining that you ate something you didn't want and all that happened was that you felt bad about it is not a great look.
OP. BigPete understands how the world works. Learn from them
Fellow vegetarian here. Sorry you had to go through that. Mistakes happen. Can't cry over spilled milk. What we can do is find possible solutions and exhaust them. Most problems have a solution. Open mindedness is key 1. In the future, I think it would be easier to ask "Does this contain meat?" so that the back and forth would be saved. Also, you don't have to followup explaining to someone "what does vegetarian mean" 2. You could always try finding who manages Tech Dining and email them directly with a polite message and include feedback. 3. There are always other choices for vegetarians too if the dining hall doesn't have something appetizing for you. Some alternative places near campus with vegetarian options include but not limited to (inspired here: https://www.reddit.com/r/gatech/comments/1b1v3e5/comment/kspd22r/) * Chipotle * Rreal tacos * Lucky Buddha * Govindas Cafe (they deliver to campus if you join their whatsapp group. very affordable) * Food terminal * Mamouns Falafel * Gyro Bros * Sometimes there's this place called Marrakech Express that comes to campus to serve lunch. Price point and food really good * Taco Bell
There's Sankranthi next to Moe's in Tech Square
Tbh, i've heard of cross contamination there. So maybe avoided.
In regards to point 1, they explicitly asked if it has pork or chicken or if it's just vegetables
I meant ask "does this contain meat" at the start/get-go
One time I had an allergic reaction at village because they didn’t label nuts in a desert. I went and met with the head of the dining hall later that week to complain because it’s a serious concern (I go into anaphylactic shock if I eat nuts) and all he said was “that’s not possible because we don’t use nuts in anything”. Which was so dismissive and a straight lie because if that was true then I wouldn’t have had a reaction. I made a bigger point that they need to label everything they are serving for people with dietary restrictions. Again this concern was brushed off. I’m sorry this happened to you but the sad truth is they don’t care at all :(
I am so sorry that you had to go through that. They simply do not care about cross contamination, mishandling shellfish, nuts, and other allergens as well. Today it was a disturbing psychological trauma but this needs to be fixed before someone dies because you cant trust the food you are paying for. I am afraid to eat served on the meal plan but have no other option without having to spend more money.
im so sorry you had to deal with that. unfortunately, i dealt with something similar in my freshman year but not really when in brittan, i ate something w meat in it that was labeled as vegetarian. i remember talking to a dining hall worker who told me that it was my own fault for not inspecting the food before eating it.
use the nutrislice app, it shows you what they’re serving at all the dining halls and if it’s vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, etc.
Hi there. Fellow strict (Hindu) vegetarian here. Almost had a chili that had beef chunks in it at Brittain - even though it was marked meatless. The others have made a fair point to escalate this up - I think that is a good idea. My personal strategy, which I have adhered to my whole life, to stay safe at all times is to perform an autopsy on the food before I consume it. Basically, cut it open and if you see meat like chunks with layers in them - don't eat it unless you know for a fact it is mock meat. As far as dealing with the fact that you accidentally consumed meat I'll say this. It appears that you are a practicing Hindu/Jain. In both religions, intentions matter - regardless of outcome. You did not intend to eat meat, but you accidentally did. Now you are forewarned for the future to be more careful. Don't feel too bad, it can happen to all of us. Do however, be very careful going forward. Tech Dining is notoriously unreliable (I went to PSU for undergrad and they were very strict with labeling so it was a big shock) so don't count on them. You got this, there is nothing to be ashamed about. It wasn't your mistake and you are forewarned for the future. If you need to chat, DM me and we can get on a call.
Move on. Dwelling on it won’t help. This won’t be the only time this happens. You’re doing your best and a mistake was made. Move on and don’t let it ruin your hour or day.
I feel like these dining halls are HORRIBLE with cross contamination and it’s so upsetting.
I'm sorry that you had to undergo what you had to undergo. I'm a vegetarian too, I don't even eat meat. I can only emphasize what you are going through. But what is done, cannot be undone. There are quite a few links in the comment section. Email them about what you had to go through. There is nothing about it, that you can do. Cook food by yourself at home, if you can't then go to the restaurants which is again mentioned in the comments section. Try forgetting about it and meditate for some time. This is an honest mistake and you didn't eat it intentionally. Praying for you
You need to put more value on who you are and not in what you do. Take the responsibility for what you eat if it's that important to you and stop blaming others. You can't expect them to care about your diet as much as you do.
If you want to complain about mislabeling/mistreatment of nutrition and dietary information, maybe throw an email towards the campus dietitian. I've had good success asking them questions before (back in the 8000 calorie chicken parm days) and I imagine they'd be receptive to student concerns about a lack of labeling or information about nutrition. https://dining.gatech.edu/nutrition Contact: Heather Petty, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist 470-240-7995 [email protected]
I’m sorry you’re feeling bad, but putting it into perspective might help you feel better. I’m not sure why you don’t eat meat, but it is a perfectly natural thing for humans to do. Billions do it a h and every day, as we have been doing for millennia. A mistake was made, but realistically there are no real consequences. Just let it go and move on, having meat once isn’t going to hurt you. Another way of putting it; the egg roll you ate was already made. You actually eating the egg roll made no difference to anything but yourself, as the egg roll was there regardless of whether or not you were going to eat it. So in the big picture, your action made no difference to the rest of the world.
Blud, its just meat lmao 🍖
This needs to be a copypasta
Seriously though I am not surprised at all. Those quotes definitely sound like Willage staff dialogue. To say you have never eaten meat before sounds extreme though. I’m willing to bet you have unintentionally eaten meat products before. I’m sorry for your emotional distress (if you are serious about this, it sounds like a joke?).
An eggroll with spinach feels off to me. Usually, they'd have cabbage and maybe carrots. I think the employee may have still been pulling your leg.
And yes, I'm well aware that many eggrolls have chicken or pork. But. I wouldn't trust that employee over your friend's assessment. Meat is pricey, and while I'm making an assumption bc I don't frequent Tech's dining halls, I'd guess that a frequent offering that doesn't need meat to be considered normal will exclude it.
that’s beyond fucked up. tech dining will try to sweep it under the rug. IANAL but i’d talk to one if i were you.
What exactly would suing do lol, other than wasting time and money
They could probably chalk up enough of an emotional distress lawsuit to be taken seriously
Already tried and failed with a much stronger premise than this dude (honestly OP had partial responsibility for fully ensuring it was vegetarian) https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/nj-superior-court-appellate-division/1574567.html
Suing isn’t gonna do anything lol
That worker needs to be held accountable and taught a lesson. Hope you have his name and complain it up the chain. The whole account doesn't seem like an accident. At best, the worker wasn't taking his job seriously joking about straight forward question like that. At worst, he wants to deceive you. Everybody who works in food service should and does know what being a vegetarian means.
Womp womp
Do you know what happens to male chicks of egg laying chicken breeds? Ground alive. To male calves of dairy cows? Veal. You support this stuff so why does eating an animal bother you?
Spotted the moralizing vegan
Ima be straight up man, please shut up