Dear Applebee's - Is it Soy or Not?

Okay, so in the foodie world finding any restaurant anywhere that is willing to list a menu for those with food allergies is RARE! But I recently learned that a major chain, Applebee's has done just that. They have an entire menu listing of foods that are 'x' allergy free. WOO-HOOO!!!! NOT! 


So in glancing upon the 'soy free' menu I immediately spot mayonnaise and several salad dressings. The red flags go up. . . almost EVERY salad dressing (EXCEPTION is home-made) has soy oil. And ditto for mayonnaise. Dang. I'm mumbling under my breath. 
Hubby is very optimistic. "They're a large chain, they actually may have these items made with a different oil."
"Harrumph", I say. Chains are notorious for using the standard, whether it's Hellmans Mayo, or the like, they STILL all have soy!
So, I shoot off a query. Short, sweet, and simple. I indicate that I am allergic to soy and read their soy free menu. I noticed the salad dressing and mayo. . . so what gives? I specifically asked, "what oils are contained in your salad dressings, and mayo, which you call soy free?"


{Choke, gag. . .} received my response tonight, and thought I'd share. This IS the full email, not any revision or changes made:

Dear Christina,

Thank you for your recent request for a list of Soy-free menu items available at Applebee’s. As America’s Favorite Neighbor, the health and safety of our guests are top priorities at Applebee’s. As part of our commitment to you, we provide the most current allergen information available from our food suppliers on eight common allergens: milk, soy, wheat, eggs, fish, shellfish, treenut and peanuts.  We do not use peanut oil.  The items listed that would be soy free, are made free of soy.  Oils can vary from soy or vegetable oil from location to location.  Please contact your local Applebee's if you have any additional questions.

You can view our allergen listing at www.applebees.com under our Menu tab.

If you have any questions or comments, please call us toll-free at 888-592-7753 (888-59APPLE). You can reach us between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, central time.

Sincerely,
XXX
Guest Relations Coordinator

Case # 1181089

Okay, I was nice and XXX'd out her name. So, let me get this straight. . . I ask you about your soy free menu. You tell me that everything on that soy free menu is free of soy, yet in the next sentence you tell me the oils you use (in your dressing and such which is listed as part of your soy free menu) IS SOY OIL?!?!?!?

Am I the only one missing the boat on this?????

I told Hubby and he was just as shocked as I was. One would think that a large, major restaurant chain that went through the trouble of actually including a menu for us allergic folks, would ACTUALLY KNOW or at least hire a consultant for such matters. . . the stupidity astounds me!

Posted in: food allergies,gluten-free,recipe