making changes at work

[veg_powered]

I work in the prepared foods / Charcuterie (deli) department at this upscale grocery store in Chicago, and have been soooo frustrated with the kitchen staff and communication there. We have 3 large cases of fully cooked prepared foods, and the majority of it has NO ingredients listed. Its especially frustrating when people are asking me questions because of allegies and I cant tell them what they can eat out of the case.

Im trying to push for changes though with my new manager. After I complained several times about it, and have had several customers I was unable to get answers for (I can always go back to the kitchen and ask people, but most of them dont speak english so it turns out to be a frustrating waste of time) my manager finally is trying to do something. She recently spoke to the executive chef about getting a better labeling system for the case. Because of the massive variety of foods in the case it would be really hard to get full ingredient lists of everything, but were at least trying to do something.

I suggested labeling things as Vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, nut free, and another i cant remember now. Its not ideal, but I feel like its a start. Any other suggestions for a major category to make??

[Medesha]

That's a great idea, good for you! Lactose free might be another useful category.

[turistattraksjo]

Casein-free is another category that might be useful, as well as soy-free and shellfish-free.

[IamJen]

vp...how is that even legal that you don't know the ingredients of the foods being sold?

[Hang~Ten~Honey]

vp...how is that even legal that you don't know the ingredients of the foods being sold?

That's what I was going to ask. :eek: I would never eat foods without knowing the ingredients in it first.

[Vegan Joe]

I went into Togos Sandwich eatery an inquired about the ingredients in the Hummus. The kid produce an unopened bag from the cooler and show me there was no ingredient lable on it, and said his boss knew nothing of it also, He suggested I could call the corporate office, I was in a hurry so I said thanks and left.

[veg_powered]

I honestly dont know how they can get away with not listing all ingredients. they put up this front that the ingredients are always available by going to ask the Kitchen staff, because everything is prepared in house, but It rarely works that way. I only get reliable answers when the Executive chef is there, and she always leaves by 3pm, and were open till 9. I think she just doesnt like to share her recipies, hence the no ingredient list. They also change ingredients depending on whats in season and affordable.

So far we have a pretty good chart for soup ingredients, and Im being told they are working on a similar one for the things we have in the case on a regular basis. Im crossing my fingers now that this actually happens, because theres only so much input i can have as a deli clerk.

[veg_powered]

For anyone Chicago.... I hate to say this about my work place, but I would reccomend avoiding Fox and Obel if you were hoping to get prepared food or eat in the cafe, because the menu isnt accurate, and theres a chance someone will lie about ingredients if they cant get a definite answer. This sucks because Fox and Obel is such a great store otherwise, and its a good place to work.

[newveggirl82]

If you can get a hold of the nutrition info/ingredients, you should make some copies of all of them, put them in folders in protectors, catagorized however you want, cheese, meat etc. Or, gluten free, vegan, vegetarian, etc. Or simply have them in the folder alphabetically. Then, you could have a couple of these folders behind the counter and a couple in front of the counter for people to flip through, and you wouldn't have to worry about tons of peices of paper taped everywhere or having to memorize it all.

[IamJen]

Ooh...vp, I used to love! Fox and Obel...I'd often hit the one on Illinois Avenue after work, since I was just down the street at the hospital. I even asked questions about the veganicity of some of the baked items. I wonder now, if they were just bs'ing me. :(

[spectrum42]

I suggested labeling things as Vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, nut free, and another i cant remember now. Its not ideal, but I feel like its a start.

That's a good start, but it would be so much better if they would list all of the ingredients. I probably would not buy something from the case if the ingredients were not listed.

Even if it said "vegetarian" or "dairy free", I would want to double check for myself. A lot of people think fish and gelatin are vegetarian. My mom, who is allergic to milk, has been offered a lot of things that people said were dairy free and yet had some ingredient that they forgot or did not realize contained milk.