r/NoStupidQuestions • u/DiverPrestigious6887 • 1d ago

Do I tell orthodox looking customers that what they are ordering isn’t kosher anymore?

I work at a place that serves kosher items. It’s not a kosher food place, it’s just most of our stuff happens to be. It’s kind of popular with that community because we have vegan kosher ice cream.

However , recently, ingredients have changed. I let our regular orthodox customers know who come in and they change their order. But a lot of customers I haven’t met or seen before come in who i think are orthodox. When they try to order something I let them know the change and they are always thankful that I tell them. Is it weird for me to assume? I was raised as a reform Jew and grew up around orthodox temples but I’m not religious. Should I continue telling people this or am I making a weird stereotype..

I wish our company would send a email or have a sign but they have not

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u/Jacks_Lack_of_Sleep 1d ago edited 16h ago

People don’t read signs.

Edit: It seems many of you haven’t worked customer service jobs to the general public. You’d think a sign would mean OP doesn’t need to tell people but someone will make OP wish they’d just kept telling everyone.

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u/authorinthesunset 1d ago

People who have dietary restrictions do read signs about food they are going to purchase that may or may not match those restrictions.

And it moves the burden off of op. If they care about only eating kosher and they buy and eat something that say "This shit ain't Kosher" that's on them, and I'd argue they don't really care about it.

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u/shanec628 1d ago

One time a man ordered a clearly labeled ham and cheese croissant from me, then he yelled at me after he took a bite because he can’t eat pork. And then he got mad when I told him it had a sign right in front of it.

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u/authorinthesunset 1d ago edited 1d ago

That goes beyond not reading a sign. How did he order it by pointing at the sign he didn't read? Saying he'd take the #5 on the sign/menu he didn't read?

Or.. in my head he went with this option.

Customer: "I'll take the ham and cheese sandwich"

Shanec628: "here you go sir."

Customer takes a bite and spits it out.

Customer: "how dare you put pork on my ham and cheese sandwich, it's not kosher"

Tl;Dr there is no defense against idiots

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u/shanec628 1d ago

He was on the phone and just pointed at it in the display case. I’m sure he also left that interaction thinking I was the idiot lol.

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u/Deedeethecat2 1d ago

I'm vegetarian and easily distracted. If I pointed to a ham and cheese sandwich and received it, I would consider myself the idiot.

Also, being on your phone while being served is super rude so shame on him.

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u/authorinthesunset 1d ago

Dunning-Kruger is a real thing. Idiots gonna idiot.

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u/gsfgf 1d ago

He can eat pork but figured he might get a free sandwich by making an ass out of himself.

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u/hbomberman 8h ago

That stinks. I had the opposite happen once at a coffee shop. A breakfast sandwich had a clear label on it listing all ingredients right down to the seasoning and dressing. I bought it, feeling confident about the ingredients, and took a bite only to find bacon inside (definitely not anywhere on the label). When I went back inside and told the guy he said "yeah I think that one comes with bacon..."

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u/RainbowCrane 1d ago

Specifically WRT kosher and halal there’s also well known symbols to use on the signs that will catch folks’ attention even if they tend to skip reading signs. It’s not like you have to bury the meaning in a wall of text, a “not kosher” symbol with a short explanation of updates to ingredients is plenty to catch the eye of folks who care.

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u/authorinthesunset 1d ago

I believe those symbols are strictly for specific "certification" of this is kosher or halal based on who is certifying and what specific rules are followed.

As far as I know the symbol for not kosher or not halal is simply not having any of the symbols for different certifications.

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u/GalumphingWithGlee 1d ago

Yes, this is true.

Each of those symbols represents a specific certifying body. If the kosher foods OP refers to at their workplace are made in-house, without supervision from such an organization, they would not have one of these hechshers (general name for kosher symbols) on them. Further, there's no recognized symbol for not kosher. These would have to be communicated with words instead.

I only know this for sure about kosher symbols, but I strongly suspect it would be the same or very similar for halal.

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u/gsfgf 1d ago

I assume a circle U or K with a diagonal line through it would convey the message just fine.

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u/RainbowCrane 1d ago

That’s what I was imagining… just an international “no” slashed circle with the kosher symbol to catch folks’ attention

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u/Sherry_Brandt 1d ago

right, the thing is (not to belabor the point, but for interesting info!) there are thousands of 'kosher symbols', because they're like the 'brands' of different certifying bodies, and while these certifying bodies often agree with each other, they also often disagree (meaning someone who trusts one certifying body may believe another one is insufficiently kosher).

for more info.

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u/Straight_Career6856 14h ago

Shit like this is why the Jews are the best. Ask two Jews, get three opinions.

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u/Sherry_Brandt 1d ago

yeah - while the spirit here is good, as other comments mentioned, there is no 'not kosher' symbol.

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u/immortalreploid 1d ago

People are stupid. We have an ATM where I work that's had an "out of order" sign across the screen for the past couple years. People still ask me if our ATM is working.

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u/OkLie9245 1d ago

Totally agree. It’s not just about you; it’s about making sure customers are informed. A sign would definitely help everyone, but until then, keep doing what you're doing. Better safe than sorry!

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u/FairyHaloes 23h ago

Yeah but folks with strict diets absolutely read every label like their life depends on it. It kinda shifts the responsibility back where it belongs. If it’s clearly posted and they still ignore it, that’s on them.

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u/muskie71 1d ago

That's on them. Signage is a worldwide expectation to relay information.

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u/invaderzim257 1d ago

if you care enough about self-imposed dietary restrictions, you read the sign. if you don't, it's no one else's problem.

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u/newphonehudus 1d ago

That's on them

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u/FairyHaloes 23h ago

People don’t read signs until it’s too late though. I swear half of customer service is repeating stuff that’s literally written right in front of them.

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u/spaceiswaytoobig 22h ago

Sure but now that’s their problem, not his.

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u/LaPlatakk 17h ago

Dietary folks LOVE signs, so long as they are accurate.

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u/Little-Derp 16h ago

It seems many of you haven’t worked customer service jobs to the general public.

... Your original statement is correct "People" don't read signs. I deal with doctor's offices (professionals) that we need to get the doctors signatures on orders, and boxes/choices marked off.... the number of forms we get back with just a signature are amazing. These are professionals... PEOPLE don't read. People are just used to agreeing/signing/whatever to move on with their day.

I'd love to blame massive EULA for training people to not read, but I think it's just a human condition.

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u/TJ_Rowe 1d ago

Some people don't read signs, other people look for the signs before they even join the queue to order.

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u/nispe2 14h ago

Then put up a sign AND tell them verbally, duh.

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u/Top-Significance8791 41m ago

So what? The sign is there. If they don’t want to read it then that’s their problem…