Saturday, March 29, 2008

McDonalds Owner Follows Up

Jerry Flagg, owner of this McDonalds, called me yesterday.
He apologized (like that's worth anything) & said there is not currently such a sign (No Food Allowed in Structure). He said that because McDs is a franchise, that for him to put up such a sign, would require permission from a corporate person. And that he would "look into it."

I brought up the point that with there being so many allergies right now, it's a lawsuit waiting to happen.

And while I don't plan to sue (gee, if I wanted to, I could have sued Archway Foods last summer for mislabeling their cookies & Flynn nearly dying), not everyone shares my beliefs, and many people are just waiting for the chance.

I agree that I could just ask a parent (allowing their child to go into the structure with deathfood) to please oblige, it would be much easier with such a rule, that I could refer to as a reinforcement. (imagine me asking said parent to not let their ranch-dressing-dripping child carry his dressing-dripping nugget into the tunnel...then imagine me pointing to said sign).
And I told Jerry this.

He again apologized, said he doesn't want me to discontinue our playdates at the playplace (bet you don't Jer, we drop $10 everytime we come, along w/ whomever we meet there!).

For whatever that's worth!!!!!!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

McDonalds Once Again Disappoints

I just submitted this to the comments of McDonald's website:

I'm in the process of writing a letter to someone in the corporate office but wanted to quickly give some feedback about this topic,
My daughter has a severe milk allergy, and while I rarely voice concerns over this (having a belief that we should just absorb our concerns, or maybe not eat out), I felt this is a concern for all parents (esp parents of allergic children).
I'd never eaten at this particular playplace. But 2 weeks ago, we were invited & we obliged. After an uneventful visit, we returned last week and then again yesterday.
I was shocked to see a child (approx 18 mos) toddling toward the climbing structure, about to climb in, holding a chicken nugget, with ranch dressing dripping off. He was in the most easily seen part of the playplace, right in front of the entrance, in plain sight of the counter (employees). He walked around for quite a while with the food. I'm certain that anyone watching from the counter could have seen.
While it is my prerogative to approach that parent & ask that she take it from the child, and wipe his hand before he enters the structure, I really don't feel I should have to be a rule implementer; considering I don't own/run the restaurant.
Are there rules about the children entering the structure with food or while eating? Are these rules posted?
As a parent of a child who has an anaphylaxis allergy, who will have a reaction upon mere contact with a milk-based ingredient, I'm scared enough to never return.
But as a parent of another child who isn't allergic, I am appalled that there could be food/food particles in parts of that structure that are unseen to parents.
I am confident that with a corporation the size of McDonald’s, with allergy awareness, there is surely such a rule. And perhaps at this particular location, the rule is just not being enforced.
As previously stated, I am in the process of creating a letter & hope to hear back from someone regarding my concern.
Thank you.