I want to share something that happened to me.  Perhaps it may have
happened to you.
By sharing this, I am hoping we may all come together and help do
something about it.

Some time ago, my partner and I were eating at our favorite Mexican
joint.  They have a Vegetarian menu, and we always get the same
thing.  An order of a cactus burrito with sweet maduros (sweet fried
plantains).

While eating my food, I noticed that something I bit into tasted
strange.  Spitting it out, I realized it was a piece of burnt fried
pork.

I complained to the workers, that my vegetarian cactus burrito dish
had meat in it.  They apologized and in Spanish were saying to each
other "so what?"

They said they were going to throw out the big bowl with the
ingredients prepared, and make a fresh one.

That was the last time I've ever eaten there again.

We took home with us the fried sweet maduros.  Eating it the next
night, I noticed that there were small burnt pieces in the bowl.  It
was burnt pork.  There were several pieces of it.

Then it hit me.  There had been occasions before where while eating
the maduros I sometimes tasted something that didn't taste like it
should have.

And so, I understood.  They fry the maduros in the same deep frier as
they do the meat.  Sometimes, I guess the loose pieces of pork swim
into the basket.

Let me ask you all something, how many of you like to eat out at
Chinese Restaurants.  I sure do.

I love ordering a dish called Sesame Bean Curd.  But the thing is,
they fry my bean curd in the same oil as they do the chicken, etc...
Sometimes even at the same time.

This is a serious health code violation for us Vegetarians, isn't it?

I mean, for those strict vegetarians, how many of you don't even eat
out at places because they fry our food in the same spot as they fry
the meat?

So, I do not consider myself a fanatic, or extremist, but gosh I
really do want to be able to eat out with feeling of comfort.

So what I have done, was write my representative, asking for some law
to be passed that would require restaurants and eateries to have
separate deep friers and separate grilling plates for meat and non
meat items.

I would like to ask you all, to please help me succeed with this, by
contacting your representatives, and senators, whoever it takes to
pass some sort of heath code law that will support us vegetarians in
being able to eat out, with out eating in things we don't want in our
bodies.

Thank you all very much for taking the time to read this.

Lenny

Thank you for this.  I don't eat out much and I think Indian restaurants are
possibly better but yes you may as well try to get something done.  I am
working on small tea rooms as I go walking and end up in them.  There is an
organic place near Bridge of earn - forgotten its name but you may find it
on the web or somewhere it isn't exclusively veggie but at least animals are
looked after and there aren't too many food miles used I don't think.

Good luck with your campaign

Sonya Murphy