Why Did A Canadian Restaurant Make A Customer Sign A Waiver?
A customer eating at a Toronto hotel restaurant got more than he ordered recently. His request was served with a side waiver. I know what you’re thinking. Why did a Canadian restaurant make a customer sign a waiver?
Was he eating really hot food? Did he order something exotic? Perhaps something raw? Well, it’s definitely not something we’d have to do here in the States!
Why Did A Canadian Restaurant Make A Customer Sign A Waiver
The story is now blowing up on Reddit. In the Reddit post, user Reit007 says, “I was flabbergasted.” So, how did things end up that way? Let’s dive in.
It all started when the U.S. visitor ordered our country’s go-to staple–a cheeseburger. He requested his burger be cooked “Medium.” Which, I believe is normal around here? That’s how I typically order mine to be cooked. It’s cooked through, with a slight bit of pink in there.
However, once they had already started eating, they were given a waiver, according to CTV News Toronto. During an interview, CTV points out the man explained, “I already had my first bite but stopped eating and did not sign the waiver. I was shocked to be honest with you.”
It was then explained to him that the kitchen at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites always cooks their burgers well-done, and that by requesting his to be only medium, thus under-cooked by their standards, he must sign a waiver, per CTV News Toronto.
Yikes! I mean, I guess I understand the whole “safety first” thing. However, I have several problems with the way this was handled.
Why Would You Have To Sign A Waiver Before Eating?
First, if it’s going to possibly be a problem and you need me to sign a waiver so you’re not on the hook for it, you should present the waiver or information before I start eating! Once I’m already chowing down, it’s too late! Couldn’t the waiter have told me or warned me when I requested the burger cooked Medium?
Secondly, what’s happened before? Why am I even having to sign a waiver to get you off the hook if anything goes wrong? Have things gone wrong before? That’s what it makes me start thinking! How bad is your kitchen that you’re making people sign waivers to eat your food?
CTV News Toronto reports the waiver said, the “guest hereby waives and releases any rights, actions or claims against Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites…for any liabilities and damages, including any food-borne illnesses and death arising out of or in connection with the guest’s use of its own food or consumption of products not provided by Hilton Toronto Airport.”
Yeah, if I have to sign all of that I’m not eating the food. I could understand signing a waiver if I’m about to eat the world’s hottest hot sauce, or something. That makes sense! However, a perfectly normal Medium burger? Now, I’m nervous!
However, according to Ontario law, a burger cooked to Medium temperatures is considered undercooked. According to Ontario’s food safety guide, ground beef should be cooked to 71 C or 160 F to “ensure adequate cooking of the meats and reduce the chance of bacterial survival.”
A "flabbergasted" American visitor to Toronto received more than 500 replies on Reddit when he shared that a Hilton hotel restaurant asked him to sign a waiver when he ordered a hamburger medium done.
— Yahoo Canada News (@YahooCanadaNews) January 18, 2024
https://t.co/RnyRjOsK2W