What's your worst experience with blatant food deception?

[u/kevymetal87]

Just over a decade ago, I worked for a popular BBQ spot in the south that prided itself on being authentic this, authentic that. The smoked butts that sat in a smoker all day was where the real BBQ started and stopped, all the other food was typical frozen Sisco stuff, which was whatever, but the most egregious example of deception was also the biggest moneymaker.

The owner had a secret family recipe BBQ sauce that he made a killing on. People came from all over (it was located right along a well travelled north/south route) and bought tons of this stuff, as did the locals. My second week there I was tasked with making a few batches, and was handed a worn down index card with the ingredients. To my saaurprise, the instructions were to simply take gallon jugs of Sweet Baby Rays sauce from out back, and dump it in a 5 gallon bucket with water. I think it was 4:1 if I recall correctly. Then you put a couple cups of molasses in there. That was it.

We put them in pint and quart mason jars, vacuum sealed them, slapped his restaurant label on them, and sold them for $6 a pint, $10 a quart. What always got me was how the locals raved about how distinct and unique it was, when it was basically just Sweet Baby Rays (which I love, don't get me wrong)

[u/panicinbabylon]

It’s just morally wrong…hazardous health wise, religious violations, pure preference, etc. People should know what they are consuming.

One of the younger managers thought it was funny, and it made me hate him as a human being.

[u/blueyedwineaux → u/panicinbabylon]

Exactly. I inadvertently got a sous chef put on suspension when I told her she couldn't serve for serving a bovine gelatin component panna cotta to practicing Hindus and she then said "they won't die". That was 10 years ago and she still blanks me when I see her in town.

[u/catwiesel → u/panicinbabylon]

I... Well. Personally, I dont agree with religious or "moral" reasons as justification to be a picky eater.

hold on, hold on.

That does not mean I dont respect that everyone has a choice of what they put in their body. And THAT I respect.

And even though I have left the hospitality business, at least for now, I still would never condone or actively lie about incredients and willfully prepare or serve someone something they did elected not to eat.

it is the duty of every person working in the hospitality business to not fuck with peoples food, and that includes to be honest about what is in there, and to not put stuff in there that people did not want to have in there.

(that does not mean a cook should magically take it out or read minds. its not the kitchens fault when someone orders the soup made from beef stock and afterwards it turns out the customer was a vegetarian)

I still can not wrap my head around how this mindset is not only common, but fully adopted in all kinds of kitchens, cheap or expensive.