Feeding the Flocks

[bjarvis]

We have a very pressing deadline to tell our convention hotel how many kosher meals we'll need for the banquet and brunch in April. Apparently, local suppliers have been closing due to the recession and the remaining suppliers are over-stressed, especially since our convention lands on passover.

While totalling up the necessary kosher meals (about 10), I looked into the various other dietary requirements for our registered attendees. Fully 10% of the registrants have dietary issues of some kind, about double what I would have predicted.


Allergic to bell peppers, cucumbers
allergic to dairy, caffeine
Allergic to mushrooms
Allergic to seafood
Allergic to shellfish
Allergic to tomatoes
gluten and dairy free
Gluten intolerant, sugar free
Gluten intolerant
Gluten intolerant
Gluten intolerant
lactose intolerant
lactose intolerant
lactose intolerant
lactose intolerant
lactose intolerant
low carb
low carb
low cholesterol
Low Fat
Low salt
Low Sodium
low sugar
No cashews, dairy
No cheese
No cheese
No cilantro
No coconut
No mushrooms
No mushrooms
no onion
no tuna
Non-dairy, no mammal, no fish
Not attending banquet
Organic, non-genetically altered, produce, grains, fish, fowl and meats.
Raw, living organic vegan
Sugar free dessert
Sugar free dessert
Sugar free dessert
Uncooked vegetarian/kosher
Vegan
vegan
Vegan
Vegan
Vegan


I would never make it in event management. I work in a commodity world: having to develop so many different customized meals for so many people would drive me nuts. I would have thrown up my arms long ago and let everyone fend for themselves as best they can because I can barely keep up with my own issues that I resist inheriting everyone else's. It's a good thing for everyone I work in another field.

Comments

[cuyahogarvr.livejournal.com]

Ummmm..... I don't see vegetarian on that list???

[urbear]

The kosher food problem does exist, and a large part of it is due to the closing of a major kosher meat processing plant that was raided for employing illegal immigrants. In any case, there are varying degrees of kosher, depending on how serious the diner is about it. At the most extreme, they wouldn't dream of eating anything outside their own homes (or the homes of trusted friends) under any circumstances. One notch below that, you'd need to provide the meal in sealed, disposable containers, with disposable cutlery, embellished with a seal from a reputable authority; they may loosen up a bit if they're told that the event is at a hotel whose kitchen is under the supervision of the local rabbinical council or a similarly certified caterer. Note that "kosher" does not necessarily imply "good"... in fact, the opposite is often true, and the diners know it, so if after the fact you hear complaints about the quality feel free to dismiss them.

As for that list... well, I don't doubt that many of the restrictions listed are genuine (and I know you have personal experience with at least one of them), but I'm pretty sure that at least a few of them are just screwing with you. You can't be expected to satisfy everyone, nor should you try.

"No onion"? "No cilantro"? Those are preferences, not restrictions. Some people have a genetic trait that makes cilantro taste unpleasant, but it's not going to hurt them.

Vegan, I can understand and respect, but "organic, non-genetically altered, produce, grains, fish, fowl and meats"? "Raw, living organic vegan"? "Uncooked vegetarian/kosher"? Oh, please. Bring your own food.

"Low carb", "low fat", "low sugar"... let 'em eat less. Or not at all.

[abqdan.livejournal.com]

As someone who is highly allergic to milk proteins, I long ago decided it was my responsibility, not the event organizer's, to deal with my medical problems. As a result, I have on only two occasions actually eaten at the IAGSDC banquet. I attend every year, push the food gently around the plate, then have the waiter take it away.

The other two occasions, the organizers were kind enough to try and organize safe food for me. In one case this worked out well, with the other nine people wondering why my selection wasn't on the menu, becuause they would have wanted it; in the other case, the 'specially prepared' meal turned out to be mostly lettuce for the starter and canned fruit salad as a dessert. Not deadly, but not appetizing.

Oddly enough, I have never died through missing a meal. Even more strangely, at almost every convention I've been able to find some local store that could provide safe food for me (the bizarre location of the San Diego convention made that tricky).

So speaking as one of those many allergy sufferers I'd advise you to forget about us; just go with what the hotel can provide, and tell the ten percenters (politely) to go fend for themselves!

Footnote: The AMA estimates 2% of the adult population have life-threatening allergies to a food ingredient.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Whatever happened to chicken, rice, veggies and a roll and leave what you can't or won't eat? :) I guess we're just much more aware of what are bodies need these days. Plus, it probably says a lot about the age range of the participants.

[guiser1.livejournal.com]

I got one word for ya:

BUFFET.

Seriously. You can't make EVERYONE happy with a list like that. I did an international medical symposium for 1200 people and ultimately they were given the options we afforded everyone, and if none of them worked, the onus fell on the individuals to accommodate themselves.

[fuzzygruf.livejournal.com]

The kosher thing is important due to the poor timing of the event around the holiday. Other than that, let the other people die. I'm just going to kill them in the square anyways.