P.F. Chang's Pesky Gluten-free Disability Lawsuit Won't Go Away Just Yet

I do agree there needs to be more awareness about celiac disease. However, I am happy when there is a gluten free option on a menu- I get real sick of eating salad. I expect to pay more...because that's what the grocery stores etc...tell me. I can't eat the 89 cent loaf of bread. If I want a quality bread it is $9 a loaf. Over nine times more expensive. If I were a restaurant owner I would just eliminate the gluten-free option. Too much trouble...especially if I had to worry about getting sued. I sincerely hope they do not!

I don't mind paying a bit more for gluten-free choices and frankly, going to court over a few dollars is what's wrong with this country. However, what I would support is a ruling that said all restaurants must provide gluten-free alternatives for 20% of their main courses.

All stores and restaurants charge more for gluten free items, I think it's terrible, but we need the choice in our restaurants. If your going to sue one restaurant than you need to sue them all and the stores. It would not be fair just signaling out one. The restaurant probably pays more for the gluten free product just as we do and needs to charge more. I believe this suit against P F Changs is not fair. At least they are providing a chance to buy gluten free articles on the menu. Most restaurants don't. Don't let this lawsuit make restaurants stop having this choice for gluten-free patrons.

Good article, please follow up with more research on other places.

Actually, I eat regularly at several lovely, small, local restaurants that don't charge extra for gluten-free, and they don't charge extra so I know that it can be done. We all know that it costs more to buy gluten-free products. What I don't know is whether it actually costs 400% more to make those gluten-free products, or if the industry is charging that much because they can. If the industry is charging more because they can, then that most definitely is discrimination. Do restaurants charge a dollar extra to sit at a handicap-accessible table? Or to provide elevator service?

Completely agree with the others. We are delighted to just be out and dine with our family of which two members have diagnosed celiacs . It is always more money for gluten free items, as these items simply cost more. I hope this doesn't blow it for us!!

I'm afraid of what's going to happen with gluten-free menus all over the country if P.F.Chang's doesn't win again. In many places, you are getting a $1 or $2 overcharge for the gluten-free option. I'm afraid that restaurants will stop giving a gluten-free option if they can not charge for the trouble. I'd rather pay $2 more than my wife and be able to dine out than being forced of eating home because there's no gluten-free option. I know that celiac disease is not a choice. However, it's the restaurant owner's choice to give us a chance to eat out or not. Don't give them a good reason to quit offering it.

I ate at PF Chang's restaurant in Santa Monica only because it was recommended and was delighted how delicious the gluten-free dish was and supremely reasonably priced it was.

That Phillips woman needs to get a life and stay home and cook her own meals. We don't need people like her making it bad for the rest of us who would like to get out to a nice place and enjoy fine dining with family and friends. She needs to withdraw her lawsuit!! STUPID IDIOT!!!

This lawsuit is going to make it more difficult for those of us with celiac to go out to eat. What restaurant in it's right mind should have to lose money on me whenever I eat there. We all know it costs more to eat gluten-free. Therefore it costs more for restaurants to provide me with gluten-free pasta, buns, soy sauce, pizza dough, etc. Therefore if I want to eat gluten-free foods, I will need to pay more to do so. Restaurants are in business to make money. They provide a service to customers. They name their price. If you do not like the price, then don't eat there. You have no RIGHT to expect the same price for gluten-free food when it costs more for the restaurant to buy and prepare for you than it's non gluten-free counterpart. If you don't want to pay for that luxury, then eat elsewhere.

 

All this lawsuit is going to do is decrease the number of restaurants that offer us gluten-free options when we dine out. I for one and ecstatic to have the opportunity for myself and my daughter to get to eat at a restaurant and have a semblance of a "regular" meal. I for one do not expect someone else to subsidize my celiac disease. I for one am rational and am happy to pay for the privilege of eating a yummy gluten-free burger with an actual bun -- not lettuce wrapped around it. Or to eat a great tasting pizza. Or to eat excellent Chinese food with gluten-free soy sauce prepared at a good restaurant.

 

What I am NOT happy about is that people like Anna Marie Phillips could ruin this for the rest of us who live in the real world. The rest of us need to speak up and let restaurants know we are delighted they offer gluten-free options and for $1 more we will pay for those.

I completely agree. This woman is hurting celiacs all over the world. We have all fought so hard to have restaurants accommodate us and because of one woman all of us may suffer.

This lawsuit is going to make it more difficult for those of us with celiac to go out to eat. What restaurant in it's right mind should have to lose money on me whenever I eat there. We all know it costs more to eat gluten-free. Therefore it costs more for restaurants to provide me with gluten-free pasta, buns, soy sauce, pizza dough, etc. Therefore if I want to eat gluten-free foods, I will need to pay more to do so. Restaurants are in business to make money. They provide a service to customers. They name their price. If you do not like the price, then don't eat there. You have no RIGHT to expect the same price for gluten-free food when it costs more for the restaurant to buy and prepare for you than it's non gluten-free counterpart. If you don't want to pay for that luxury, then eat elsewhere.

 

All this lawsuit is going to do is decrease the number of restaurants that offer us gluten-free options when we dine out. I for one and ecstatic to have the opportunity for myself and my daughter to get to eat at a restaurant and have a semblance of a "regular" meal. I for one do not expect someone else to subsidize my celiac disease. I for one am rational and am happy to pay for the privilege of eating a yummy gluten-free burger with an actual bun -- not lettuce wrapped around it. Or to eat a great tasting pizza. Or to eat excellent Chinese food with gluten-free soy sauce prepared at a good restaurant.

 

What I am NOT happy about is that people like Anna Marie Phillips could ruin this for the rest of us who live in the real world. The rest of us need to speak up and let restaurants know we are delighted they offer gluten-free options and for $1 more we will pay for those.

Excellent response! I too love the fact that I am able to enjoy a meal out in a restaurant and hold an actual menu with a list of gluten-free options! Please don't let one bad apple spoil it for the rest of us.

I certainly agree with the others that this lawsuit will make it more difficult for celiacs to eat out. My hubby was diagnosed with celiac almost 20 years ago and it was extremely difficult to ever eat out. We are so thankful that so many restaurants have taken the time and put forth the extra effort to make sure we are able to get a safe meal. We regularly pay the extra $1 or $2 for gluten free buns or pasta because it does cost more as we all know!

I ate at PF Chang's last night and had the gluten-free spicy chicken and gluten-free lettuce wraps. They should charge more, as it costs more for certain ingredients, more money to train employees and they have special equipment and a special area of the kitchen designated as gluten-free to avoid cross contamination. I travel a ton for work, and am grateful to folks like PF Chang's that go out of their way as they have. If the charge wasn't for the increase in cost, and just "because they could," then I would feel differently. I belong to a major airline lounge who won't let me bring in my own food to eat. Considering the only thing they have that is gluten free is an alcohol drink mix, I'm pretty sure they're not making a reasonable accommodation as outlined in Title 3 of the ADA. I don't expect them to prepare me gluten-free food, I just want to eat what I bring from home in peace. By the way, there was a lawsuit that upheld Celiac with the ADA: Open Original Shared Link

Oh for.goodness sake. Get a life. Yes, we pay more for a gluten-free meal. Thank you for taking the extra time and care with my meal. Yes, I gladly pay a couple extra dollars for your trouble. And no, you are not that disabled. Either eat at home or go somewhere else. You choose to eat where you want. I have no patience or this kind of person!

Who are you to say if this person is disabled or not!! I was on my death bed from celiac and it has taken me 20 years to get into the good place I am now but am still disabled. All celiacs have different degrees of the disease. Being and autoimmune disease each person can have zero to a multitude of other disorders/health aliments, my list is long as I had much damage that was irreversible.

As for P.F. Changs, most if not all of their gluten-free options are the same as the non gluten-free options, their is no difference in ingredients!!! They simply have a different station that they cook them at and different plates so it costs P.F. Changs NOTHING to provide us with our gluten-free food, hence we are being ripped off!!!

Who are you to say if this person is disabled or not!! I was on my death bed from celiac and it has taken me 20 years to get into the good place I am now but am still disabled. All celiacs have different degrees of the disease. Being and autoimmune disease each person can have zero to a multitude of other disorders/health aliments, my list is long as I had much damage that was irreversible.

As for P.F. Changs, most if not all of their gluten-free options are the same as the non gluten-free options, their is no difference in ingredients!!! They simply have a different station that they cook them at and different plates so it costs P.F. Changs NOTHING to provide us with our gluten-free food, hence we are being ripped off!!!

How can you assume that offering different preparation stations, areas for plates and utensils, training for everyone who works there, ingredients (yes, they do use gluten-free soy and other sauces which do cost more), etc. would cost this chain nothing? Of course it costs them, but they also see a potential return on their investment. Do you think suing them will make them charge the same? What about suing gluten-free bread makers to make their breads cost the same? This is the worst strategy and will backfire for celiacs as restaurant chains DO NOT need to cater to us.