Just a quick hitter here about my most recent encounter with restaurant food.
Last Sunday I tried the local Applebee’s again after a previous failed attempt to get a burger without a migraine. Spoke to the manager on the phone before we even visited the restaurant. He assured me:
The ingredients in the hamburger were only Beef.
They could make it without any seasoning at all.
They could serve me iceberg lettuce cut fresh in the restaurant (as opposed to the pre-cut and bagged) as a side.
Got the burger and it tasted GREAT! Unfortunately, I’ve learned that is often a sign of bad things to come. I noticed that it seemed pretty oily on the bottom of the burger, but assumed it was grease from the burger. I never eat the buns because they always contain Malted Barley, a known Manufactured free Glutamate. The manager had mentioned to me that they used a “Conditioning Oil” on the grill on all of their products. Silly me, I thought it was something like conditioning a cast iron skillet and there would be a slight amount that might rub off on the burger, if any at all. Boy was I wrong.
Next Day: KILLER Migraine. Worst one I’ve had for at least 2 years (coincidentally also from an Applebee’s). I’ve learned that processed food is the cause of ALL of my migraines. Probably you too, if you get them.
So after I was finally over the Migraine (Tuesday afternoon, by the way), I called back to the local Applebee’s and got a different manager and explained the problem I had. He confirmed that the burger’s only ingredient was beef (I’m always suspect of pre-formed burgers. They often contain other stuff).
So the only other option, since I don’t eat the buns, was the “Conditioning Oil”.
Bingo!!
Turns out they use a product called Liquid Butter Alternative on EVERYTHING on the grill. Who knew? And not sparingly. He didn’t have time to read me all of the ingredients, but he said it had “Lots”. He told me it was a CARGILL product.
Here’s what I think it was. If not, then something else equally evil by the same company:
Here’s the ingredient statement:
Ingredient Statement (US): Soybean Oil, Palm Oil, Salt, Natural Flavor, Soy Lecithin, Beta Carotene. CONTAINS: SOY
So what on this list causes Migraines?
Natural Flavor: These are NEVER natural. They are some form of Manufactured free Glutamate (think MSG, but there are NUMEROUS similar items used under this umbrella term). And yes, they are a BIG contributor to Migraines.
Soy Lecithin: Another Manufactured free Glutamate.
Beta Carotene: I know, they tell you it’s just for color, so it can’t be all that bad, right? Well, I bet you didn’t know that it was produced with a fermentation process, right? Fermentation processes almost always produce Manufactured free Glutamates as well, if there is any natural glutamate in the product to start. If you’d like to see how this wonderful stuff is made, read this patent.
So not just one, but THREE Migraine causing sub-ingredients in just this one ingredient.
So the good news is there is not one, but two managers of the local Applebee’s who tried to honestly help me. I’m not upset with them. Most restaurants (and their customers) are clueless about the damaging ingredients in their food. Even though they didn’t fully understand my problem, they did all they knew to help me.
The last manger assured me that I can order a burger and ask for no seasoning, cooked with real butter (which they surprisingly do have) and absolutely none of the Liquid Butter Poison (I mean Alternative).
I’m going to try it, since that’s the only way I can tell.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
You could also cook your own burger at home...
Not surprised by that fake butter. Amazing you got such great, understanding service, though!