Cross contamination…

[wildr0se2]

I was getting pasta at my campus dining hall. I asked for plant-based chicken, and she puts some of it and REAL chicken in the pan. I had to ask for the separate pan, and the worker had another worker come over to cook it for me. I’m not sure if she was new so maybe she was getting confused, but I’m worried I came off as high maintenance because I didn’t want my plant-based chicken touching real chicken. Normally I try not to stress about cross-contamination but it just irked me and felt too risky to eat it knowing there was real chicken touching my food.

Any vegans who also worry about cross contamination?

 

[silva]

I was getting pasta at my campus dining hall. I asked for plant-based chicken, and she puts some of it and REAL chicken in the pan. I had to ask for the separate pan, and the worker had another worker come over to cook it for me. I’m not sure if she was new so maybe she was getting confused, but I’m worried I came off as high maintenance because I didn’t want my plant-based chicken touching real chicken. Normally I try not to stress about cross-contamination but it just irked me and felt too risky to eat it knowing there was real chicken touching my food.

Any vegans who also worry about cross contamination?

Was it raw chicken? That would be disgusting! I wouldn't be ok being in the same pan even if it were already cooked and just reheated.
I'm ok with like a shared grill, with it just being heated off and scraped, but there's no reason to use the same pan
For me it's actually more a matter of taste

 

[wildr0se2]

Was it raw chicken? That would be disgusting! I wouldn't be ok being in the same pan even if it were already cooked and just reheated.
I'm ok with like a shared grill, with it just being heated off and scraped, but there's no reason to use the same pan
For me it's actually more a matter of taste

I don’t know actually. I think it’s cooked but they reheat it in a pan. They basically let you choose your protein along with whatever veggies and they cook multiple pans at once out in the open behind the counter.

And yeah, if it’s shared grill, I don’t make a huge deal about it. Same with whether they use a separate pan (if I have the option I like to request it and prefer that but otherwise I get afraid I’ll come off as stuck up).

 

[KLS52]

I don't worry about cross-contamination in general, but I don't think I would want my plant-based chicken cooking in the same pan either. I'm fine as long as it's cooked separately even if the pan or grill has just been wiped and not scrubbed perfectly clean.

 

[shyvas]

I won't eat anything if flesh has been cooked on the same grill or in a frying pan.

It reminds me of when I was in an air BnB and I added some vegan protein to a oven dish where the lady was cooking fish! I ended up eating a tiny bit of fish which was disgusting.

 

[Tom L.]

@wildr0se2 People in the business of serving food should follow the guidelines for food preparation. This includes not contaminating a meal with ingredients which could be unacceptable for the customer. It might be unacceptable for a number of reasons: religious reasons (kosher, halal, etc.); food allergies (some of these can be life-threatening); or other. I don't think your request was unreasonable at all.

 

[wildr0se2]

@wildr0se2 People in the business of serving food should follow the guidelines for food preparation. This includes not contaminating a meal with ingredients which could be unacceptable for the customer. It might be unacceptable for a number of reasons: religious reasons (kosher, halal, etc.); food allergies (some of these can be life-threatening); or other. I don't think your request was unreasonable at all.

I agree. Even when I told the food worker and she tried removing the chicken, I still felt uncomfortable. I feel like there should be more than just one separate pan for people with allergies/dietary accommodations, too. Even when you get to the front of the line, they automatically throw the oil on a regular pan and I feel like a jerk to say "hey can I have the vegan pan". Like maybe she was just in her own head, but I did clearly say vegan chicken and I wonder why it occurred to her to mix it with real chicken...maybe there's not enough people who order the plant-based chicken or something.

 

[wildr0se2]

I won't eat anything if flesh has been cooked on the same grill or in a frying pan.

It reminds me of when I was in an air BnB and I added some vegan protein to a oven dish where the lady was cooking fish! I ended up eating a tiny bit of fish which was disgusting.

I don't really understand why people rave about fish. The most I'd have is fishsticks before I went vegan. I also find seafood to be kinda gross, specifically clams. That was how my ethical journey started, actually, because I tried clams and felt guilty to eat them (I didn't like them anyway. Very gross.)

Very sorry you experienced that :/

 

[wildr0se2]

I don't worry about cross-contamination in general, but I don't think I would want my plant-based chicken cooking in the same pan either. I'm fine as long as it's cooked separately even if the pan or grill has just been wiped and not scrubbed perfectly clean.

Yeah there was something about actually seeing the real chicken mixed with it that felt too personal. At restaurants with my family, I feel self-conscious to ask for things like a separate pan or if there's x ingredient in y product sometimes. It feels like everyone except my mom is silently judging me or something.

 

[1956]

Yeah there was something about actually seeing the real chicken mixed with it that felt too personal. At restaurants with my family, I feel self-conscious to ask for things like a separate pan or if there's x ingredient in y product sometimes. It feels like everyone except my mom is silently judging me or something.

It’s my opinion that worrying about what other people think about what I eat is Their problem!
They can judge me as much as they want! Perhaps it’s because I am older and I want to be Responsible for what I Think and Do!
It’s the same for politics or racism - I am Not going to “pretend” that I am OK with something that is Not ok in my opinion!
I have been in situations where someone is saying something that is Definitely not ok in my view, I will either tell them my opinion or if it will escalate into a conflict I will say that I’d rather not discuss it and then simply leave…
I was in my early thirties when I became Vegan - for me it was an Empowering experience! If someone was going to judge me that was their problem!
My ethics and values are what is Important.
As far as restaurants are concerned it is Vital to insist on proper cooking methods, not just for Vegans but also because of people who have food allergies.
Overcoming the fear of being judged might not be easy, but it’s probably Very good for one’s mental health.