Five Guys vent

[golfgal]

So, for those of you that think they shouldn't have peanuts, how about seafood restaurants? Should they stop serving seafood? Should restaurants that do serve sea food be required to put signs on the door stating they serve sea food? I know a LOT more people with seafood allergies then peanut allergies.

 

[mumom95]

I see your point. Considering how dangerous that particular allergy can be even if breathed in for some people, it is irresponsible of the establishments who do this to not have a sign on the door stating:

Warning LOTS of peanuts in side.

They could even make it cutesy so as not to be detrimental to the many people who enjoy peanuts.

The one that opened by us does have signs. They also have signs on the door that say they cook with peanut oil.

 

[mumom95]

Honestly, if there were signs on the door I did not see them. I was balancing a toddler in one arm, purse in the other, and trying to open the door for another child. Plus, it was dark and rainy out and with the lights on inside any sign was probably backlit. The only sign I noticed on my way out (the second time) about not removing peanuts was on the peanut box itself (located near the door).

As I stated before, I'm not a peanut nazi and understand that any eating place can serve what they want. However, it surprises me from a business standpoint that a fast-food chain restaurant would have peanuts due to the number of people who have that allergy (very often children) and that it limits their customer base when you add in the rest of the family members or even co-workers as the case may be. (We used to have a Longhorn Steakhouse with peanuts on the tables but it went out of business...but that clientele is different than fast-food). Plus, I've never seen a Five Guys with a drive-thru option to alleviate the problem of going inside.

They've been building these franchises as fast as they can around here and the ones that I drive by and can see inside always seem mostly empty. Shades of Krispy Kreme....pretty sure there will be a market correction at some point. Again, it seems strange to me from a business perspective; maybe they should try a peanut-free profile at select locations and see if it draws in those who otherwise would have to skip going to Five Guys. Just a thought!

The Five Guys around here is different. It is always packed. We went last week and had to wait 20 minutes in line to order than another 10 minutes to find a seat. I haven't been there once where there wasn't a long wait. But it's new to the area, so we'll see if it's still like that in a year.

I do agree with the poster that said they aren't as good as In N Out. Oh, how I miss In N Out.

 

[robinb]

So, for those of you that think they shouldn't have peanuts, how about seafood restaurants? Should they stop serving seafood? Should restaurants that do serve sea food be required to put signs on the door stating they serve sea food? I know a LOT more people with seafood allergies then peanut allergies.

I don't recall anyone saying that they shouldn't serve peanuts . The OP said "... maybe they should try a peanut-free profile at select locations and see if it draws in those who otherwise would have to skip going to Five Guys." But that's different than saying that Five Guys shouldn't have peanuts.

FWIW, I think the signs are to warn people with inhalation allergies to peanut dust. AFAIK, you can't inhale seafood dust.

 

[mhsjax]

I don't recall anyone saying that they shouldn't serve peanuts . The OP said "... maybe they should try a peanut-free profile at select locations and see if it draws in those who otherwise would have to skip going to Five Guys." But that's different than saying that Five Guys shouldn't have peanuts.

FWIW, I think the signs are to warn people with inhalation allergies to peanut dust. AFAIK, you can't inhale seafood dust.

True you can't inhale seafood dust, but at my kids school there was a teacher there that had such a severe allergy to seafood that no body could bring in any type of seafood, not even a tuna sandwich. If she was anywhere around it, it could kill her,so there must be something similar.

I think it is silly to try a Five Gus with no peanuts, they even fry in peanut oil.

 

[mlynn]

DS has a peanut allergy (ingest). we have been to Five Guys and are just really careful when we go. we have less of a problem there versus places like Texas Roadhouse and Logan's, where people drop the shells all over the floor. those places do seem to irritate DS.

and most peanut oils are so refined that the allergen has been removed. chick-fil-a uses peanut oil. but it has never bothered DS because it has been refined and the allergen removed. his is not a life-threatening allergy (well, that we know. he hasn't had a lot of exposure to peanuts--just one cross-contamination that left him swollen and with difficulty breathing, but not anaphalactic.), and he has eaten at chick-fil-a without problems for years. from what i understand, some can tolerate peanut oil and some cannot. DS can. so, it isn't to say that everyone with a peanut allergy needs to avoid peanut oil.

My dd5 can also eat Chick fil a. We also fry our turkey in peanut oil on thanksgiving.She has never had a problem with peanut oil.

 

[stashbin]

I know this is a little OT but, at the beginning of the school year, we were given a letter from DD's teacher that said that one of the kids in her class had peanut allergies and so NO child could have PB&J or any type of peanut product in their lunch box. This infuriated me bc my DD loves pb&j sandwiches. So I expressed my thoughts and a new note was sent home and it stated that anyone who brought snacks or treats for the class should not bring peanut products and that students should be told not to share their lunches with other students.
That sounded more reasonable to me. So I guess my point is, don't penalize everyone for a few.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

What do you all with peanut allergies do at baseball and football games. Peanuts and shells are everywhere at the ones we go to.

 

[frndshpcptn]

Now I really want to go to Five Guys....

 

[dawson5]

I know this is a little OT but, at the beginning of the school year, we were given a letter from DD's teacher that said that one of the kids in her class had peanut allergies and so NO child could have PB&J or any type of peanut product in their lunch box. This infuriated me bc my DD loves pb&j sandwiches. So I expressed my thoughts and a new note was sent home and it stated that anyone who brought snacks or treats for the class should not bring peanut products and that students should be told not to share their lunches with other students.
That sounded more reasonable to me. So I guess my point is, don't penalize everyone for a few.

I helped out at the lunchroom a bit last year at the grade school. They had one peanut-free table there. Sometimes there would be just one kid sitting there, all by himself. I always felt bad for the little guy. I think he was in first grade. I think there were three 5th graders last year at that table.

I would guess that they over-reacted to the peanut allergy. It sounds like there are two different ones and maybe that child's was harmful if ingested and not airborne. I would assume there isn't a way around airborne, although I don't really know for sure.

We've had the "list" of products that we're not allowed to bring in to school. It's standard now for room parents.

Love 5 guys fries. Remind me of a place back home that made the home made ones (curly cue though) and fried them in peanut oil. They also made the best chili dogs around.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Right on their home page, Five Guys publicizes that they have open bulk peanuts in their stores.

That would, reasonably, preclude any 'test' peanut-free locations. It's almost as bad as that idiotic New York legislation banning SALT in restaurants because some politician's father has had several strokes - i.e. he can't be responsible for watching his own food intake, so the entire population doesn't get to MAKE a choice.

 

[Crystal0608]

The one I go to has a ton of signs posted about peanuts and about not taking them out of the store in Concord, NC. Their fries are a rare treat for me, but sooo good with malt vinegar.

 

[paintnolish]

OP, I am sorry you have to deal with peanut allergies, but the reality is that the vast majority of people don't. It seems that peanuts are part of the Five Guys sctick, and I really don't feel they should have to change it. There are many peanut-free similar establishments, like Meathead's (which is quite delicious). Good luck.

 

[Shmily1]

All of the ones I have been to have had a big sign on the outside stating they serve peanuts. There are also signs that say don't take the peanuts outside so as to not contaminate areas that would effect others. There are other places mentioned above that serve peanuts too. I'd hate to know that no one could have peanuts or any other food people are allergic to because other's can't. Doesn't seem fair does it?

As for us, we go there when we are around one because DH and DD18 love the burgers. I personally love the cajun fries. We also eat some of the peanuts when we are hungry for them.

 

[monkeybug]

We have a few 5 guys near us. They all have signs on the door.

 

[golfgal]

I guess it really comes down to this, if I had a child with a peanut allergy, I wouldn't walk into any restaurant without knowing more about it. Even Dairy Queen has signs about peanuts in use.

 

[3boymthr]

All the 5 guys around here have big bold signs - of course all the stores are new. But if the store is older I could totally see only a small sign.

5 Guys are franchises - my aunt once owned a franchise (candy store not 5 guys) and all the financial risk was on her part - she paid a giant fee to the company to license their products and name and then had to pay the rent for the store, capital to make the store look like all the others, pay the payroll, insurance, overhead, etc. The 5 Guys arrangement may be different, but I doubt it - so there is little or no risk for the corporation to allow so much expansion - their biggest risk is turning people off by over-exposure.

I know this is a little OT but, at the beginning of the school year, we were given a letter from DD's teacher that said that one of the kids in her class had peanut allergies and so NO child could have PB&J or any type of peanut product in their lunch box. This infuriated me bc my DD loves pb&j sandwiches. So I expressed my thoughts and a new note was sent home and it stated that anyone who brought snacks or treats for the class should not bring peanut products and that students should be told not to share their lunches with other students.
That sounded more reasonable to me. So I guess my point is, don't penalize everyone for a few.

We had a similar situation but they never revoked the we can't send PB in the lunchboxes provision and PB is pretty much all my DS will eat for lunch - he now gets a snack for lunch and eats when he gets home. They expanded our list to include any product that might possibly remotely have been processed with peanuts - if a company makes a peanut product then they're on the list of forbidden items (so no Ritz crackers even). So I totally sympathize as it's very, very frustrating, because the list of foods is a mile long and 90% of my DS' favorites are on the list of forbidden items, but I think because the kids are young they are afraid of cross contamination cause they don't make them wash their hands after they eat. So I try to not get too too frustrated and pray that next year we're not in a peanut free room.

 

[dislaney]

I guess it really comes down to this, if I had a child with a peanut allergy, I wouldn't walk into any restaurant without knowing more about it. Even Dairy Queen has signs about peanuts in use.

I agree with this! Now I'm hungry for a burger..

 

[golfgal]

I agree with this! Now I'm hungry for a burger..

I want some fries. We were at a Jazz band festival with our twins' jazz band last week and had the chance to eat at 5 guys but couldn't because DD's friend that has a peanut allergy was with us --seriously. There are only 2 or 3 of them in our state so far so getting to one means making a special trip to get there.

 

[Christine]

Those that say they take their peanut allergic child there and that they love the food but just don't eat the peanuts...well...I would seriously consider having your child tested again. If they're eating fries and burgers that are covered in peanut oil with no ill effects, I highly doubt they're really allergic.

I guess you're referring to me?

I have done much research over the years and have found that peanut oil processed in the U.S. is heat processed versus cold pressed. The offending allergen has been destroyed. If you look at any of the research, there has not been a case of one peanut allergic person reacting to heat-pressed peanut oil. I made a decision, after many years of being crazy-protective, to go with the research and allow my son to eat foods cooked in peanut oil as long as I check the oil. We do this at Chick-Fil-A also. My son is tested every few years and he is highly allergic on the tests and has had ingestion reactions. He is fine at Five Guys and Chick-Fil-A.

If I do take him in there, I check that the restaurant is clean, tables clean, floors clean. Last week they were not and we did not stay.