New law says caterers have to take back uneaten food? (Riverside: home, college)

[Shelly'The Machine'Levene]

Another post here concerning someone's question about catered food reminded me of something I've been wondering about since the first time I heard it:

At the end of a workplace staff luncheon not long ago employees of the Moreno Valley Mexican restaurant which had provided the food for the luncheon started to pack all the leftover food up and bring it out to their vehicles for return to the restaurant. (I had been wondering why these restaurant employees had been sticking around after the food was delivered to the site of the luncheon.)

The reason, I was told, is that there is a (state? local?) law that "for health reasons" prohibits any leftover catered food from being left at the place it was brought to.

My immediate reaction upon hearing this was that it sounded ridiculous -- in fact, it sounded like a perfect scam to me.

The food had been fully paid for by the company which sponsored the employee luncheon. Where in the world did the Mexican restaurant get the right to then TAKE BACK whatever paid-for food was left over from the event? Am I the only one suspecting that the restaurant might very well have then served that leftover food to other customers in their restaurant?

What do you think?

[serialdriller]

Served the leftovers to other customers....

[Twinkle Toes]

Don't know - never gave it any thought, but ... EWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by Shelly'The Machine'Levene

The reason, I was told, is that there is a (state? local?) law that "for health reasons" prohibits any leftover catered food from being left at the place it was brought to.

I'd contact the Department of Environmental Health [(909) 884-4056; (760) 995-8148] and ask them.

I've never heard of such a thing - - if I paid for the food, I get to do what I want with the left-overs!

[Donn2390]

I don't know about any laws, but my company frequently caters luncheons and, after everyone finishes eating, the caterers portion out and dish up the remaining food on plates and covers the plates with foil and tells anyone who would like, to take a plate home. As you said, the food is already paid for, and the caterers certainly don't want to take it back. Frugal me is always first in line to take a couple of plates home...!!
I know of a local college cafeteria that, on Fridays, gives all left over food to the church to feed the homeless.
Perhaps your caterers just want to take a plate home to their families..??

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by Donn2390

Perhaps your caterers just want to take a plate home to their families..??

Sounds like they lied in the process...

[Ghengis]

hmmm, wonder who had your food before you did?

[ferretkona]

Originally Posted by Gandalara

I'd contact the Department of Environmental Health [(909) 884-4056; (760) 995-8148] and ask them.

I've never heard of such a thing - - if I paid for the food, I get to do what I want with the left-overs!

I have seen this happen for the last 30 years. We brought ice chests for left over and were told we could not take any with us. One time we watched 30 pounds of prawns go out with the caterers.

[plum12345]

Last time I had a meal catered and served was in Corona a year and a half ago. They let us take everything. I go to catered dinners often in Riverside and they just drop the food off.

I wonder if they are just trying to cover themselves against a law suit. They deliver food and leave, someone decides its a good idea to eat potato salad that's been sitting out in 100 degree weather for 6 hours, gets sick, calls the health department.

[Craziaskowboi]

Hell, give the uneaten food to the janitors and maintenance people or something. They gotta eat too.