Canadian Hotel Makes Diner Sign Food Waiver Before Eating A Medium-cooked Burger

Food preferences can be a personal matter, especially when it comes to meat. A Reddit user from the US shared his surprising experience at a Hilton hotel in Canada, where he ordered a medium cooked burger and was asked to sign a Food Waiver. The diner claimed he was ‘flabbergasted’ when he was told to sign a release form, stating the only available option was a well done burger. The waiver aimed to protect the restaurant chain from any claims related to foodborne illnesses due to the medium cooking request. The traveller questioned whether such a precaution should have been communicated earlier and wondered if such waivers were a common practice in Canada, sparking mixed reactions from the redditors.

Sharing the post, the user explained, “I ordered my burger medium and the waiter took it with no question or comment. She brought it and it looked great. When I had my first bite she brought me a release form and said we always make our burgers well done but since you wanted it medium, now you should sign this. I was flabbergasted. I read the release form and I think I can never have a burger. I tried to be nice so I paid and left but could not eat the burger. I am from the US, so I do not know. Is it common in Canada? Like how can you sign a form like this and still eat it? Why did the waiter not say anything beforehand? I still cannot believe it.”

Many Reddit users expressed shock at the concept of requiring a waiver for a specific food request. However, some were surprised not by the form but rather that the individual was allowed to order a medium cooked burger.

A user explained, “Most places in Canada don’t offer cooking preferences on budgets due to food regulations, hence the waiver.”

Another noted, “I had it happen to me at the Fairmont Royal York. Ground and processed uncooked meat pose a higher risk of foodborne illness.”

An individual wrote, “Yeah, medium burgers are not at all standard here, but I’d have lost my appetite too if my food came with a waiver.”

One more shared, “As a server that worked in a restaurant where we serve a lot of US travellers, I would get asked for a burger medium all the time. I would explain why we couldn’t legally do it and people would get mad at me.”

A spokesperson from Hilton responded to the situation and explained that when guests request a cooking temperature for meat below the minimum required, the hotel provides a waiver as an additional food safety measure. In response to the recent incident, the hotel is taking steps to address the matter. They are in the process of adding a disclaimer to their restaurant menus, aiming to make guests aware of the risks associated with specific cooking preferences. Additionally, the hotel expressed their intention to discontinue the use of waivers in such situations.

The Ontario Food Safety Guide has shared specific guidelines for cooking ground meat to ensure food safety. According to the guide, ground meat, including burgers, should be cooked to a minimum temperature of 71ºC for at least 15 seconds. This guideline is designed to diminish the risk of bacterial survival and ensure the safety of the food.