A deli worker at Whole Foods, Highway 280 location in Birmingham , said the
dumbest thing yesterday I have ever had said to me in a grocery store to date.
Read on if you can use a good laugh.
People with Celiac disease, or those who are gluten
intolerant, know that traveling can be stressful even under the best of
circumstances. Those in this situation are familiar with taking fresh fruit, breakfast
bars, homemade granola, homemade gluten free muffins and such to have something
safe to eat. For us, by the time we get in the car with a couple of coolers
packed and loaded along with our personal things, not to mention taking our
four little rescue pups to be boarded, we are always exhausted.
The past few days were exceptionally nerve wracking because
we were going to Birmingham ,
not for pleasure, but for Rick to have
surgery for a basil cell carcinoma growing on his temple. Surgically, everything
went splendidly, with the dermatological surgeon assuring us we would never
have another problem with THAT mole.
Heading home after a 24-hour recuperation period, we stopped
by the deli of the closest Whole Foods store to pick up a little something we
could eat on the go. We asked the person at the deli counter about gluten free
options. His response, and I quote, “You need to pass on us because we don’t
control the cooking environment, so the risk of cross contamination is too
great. Have you considered visiting the produce section or the raw meat
section?” No—I am not kidding! This person actually suggested purchasing
uncooked food in place of a cooked meal. Did this, for lack of a more polite
term, idiot really think when we were looking for a prepared gluten free meal,
we would buy raw food instead?
