LNERs binned sausage rolls served to rail passengers

[styles]

20 years ago Midland Mainline began throwing unsold sandwiches out at the end of each day, they had previously been donated to homeless charities but, surprise surprise, those very people started with their spurious claims of feeling ill after eating them, the few ruining things for the majority as usual

Seems like an odd decision.

Only a few years ago I was collecting leftover food from the likes of Eurostar and giving it away. No complaints or legal cases as far as I know.

They all have use by dates, which unlike best before or sell by or display until dates, mean they can't be given away or sold after the date shown. Always managed to give away the sandwiches, wraps, etc by the end of the day.

 

[ExRes]

Seems like an odd decision.

Only a few years ago I was collecting leftover food from the likes of Eurostar and giving it away. No complaints or legal cases as far as I know.

They all have use by dates, which unlike best before or sell by or display until dates, mean they can't be given away or sold after the date shown. Always managed to give away the sandwiches, wraps, etc by the end of the day.

Not an odd decision at all, why would Midland Mainline want to open themselves up to spurious legal action?

 

[styles]

Not an odd decision at all, why would Midland Mainline want to open themselves up to spurious legal action?

Because it would fail?

Pretty much every supermarket in the UK gives away food on its sell by date. I'm unaware of any successful legal action based on giving away food in such situations. It's the whole reason many soup kitchens survive.

Is there actually a source for this even happening with Midland Mainline? How many homeless people actually have the resources to bring legal action against a multimillion pound company? Sounds like canteen rumour.

 

[ExRes]

Because it would fail?

Pretty much every supermarket in the UK gives away food on its sell by date. I'm unaware of any successful legal action based on giving away food in such situations. It's the whole reason many soup kitchens survive.

Is there actually a source for this even happening with Midland Mainline? How many homeless people actually have the resources to bring legal action against a multimillion pound company? Sounds like canteen rumour.

It was most certainly not 'canteen rumour', as it was over 20 years ago I'd find it a little difficult to 'produce a source' even if I wanted to

 

[styles]

It was most certainly not 'canteen rumour', as it was over 20 years ago I'd find it a little difficult to 'produce a source' even if I wanted to

Got it...

 

[contrex]

20 years ago Midland Mainline began throwing unsold sandwiches out at the end of each day, they had previously been donated to homeless charities but, surprise surprise, those very people started with their spurious claims of feeling ill after eating them, the few ruining things for the majority as usual

How do you know they were spurious?

 

[styles]

How do you know they were spurious?

I mean we don't even know they actually existed.

 

[ExRes]

I mean we don't even know they actually existed.

So you're calling me a liar?

 

[styles]

So you're calling me a liar?

A lot of rumours get banded around. Yesterday I was told you'd be sued for doing CPR if it resulted in a broken rib. Without actual evidence of such legal cases actually being brought, and given food hygiene regulations are way stricter today than they were 20 years ago and I've given away excess food from rail operators absolutely fine, I am skeptical that such cases ever existed, let alone were successful. I am happy to be proven wrong with a reliable source. That doesn't mean "calling you a liar" - people believe rumours all the time.

 

[contrex]

I mean we don't even know they actually existed.

The sandwiches or the charities (or the clients)?

 

[styles]

The sandwiches or the charities (or the clients)?

The alleged claims of legal action based on giving away in-date but excess food.

I am sure both the in-date but excess sandwiches, and the charities, both existed, as they do today, and they benefit from receiving such short-dated food

 

[yorkie]

Does anyone have anything to add about this case, or are we done here?

Anyone is welcome to create a new thread, for any spin-off topic not already covered by an existing thread.

 

[cats_five]

A lot of rumours get banded around. Yesterday I was told you'd be sued for doing CPR if it resulted in a broken rib.

If someone did CPR without breaking a rib or ribs it might well not succeed.
Someone had a heart attack at the gliding club and thanks to very effective CPR from a big chap, and our defib, he survived intact. His ribs took time to heal but he was so glad to be alive!

 

[MrJeeves]

The request asks for, "the number of chilled food temperatures which have been recorded on your handover apps in the Notes Section". LNER provided this response:

Try not to be too clever with requests, as you may be wrong in an assumption!

LNER could have said zero here, based on the wording of the actual request. They did however apply some discretion to the misinformed requester, and provided the data for where it is actually logged.

Organisations are obliged to assist people who request information or may be prospective requestors of information where reasonably possible.

16.— (1) It shall be the duty of a public authority to provide advice and assistance, so far as it would be reasonable to expect the authority to do so, to persons who propose to make, or have made, requests for information to it.

If LNER corrected the requestor and simply said "the data isn't recorded there, but instead it's recorded here", I think it would be quite easy to make a case that they should have instead helped the requestor reframe their request as the intent of the request was clear.

The ICO list some example decision notices and tribunal cases on their guide to this section of FOI legislation, but none listed would cover a situation like this. It is worth noting that:

The Commissioner interprets this duty broadly. For example, if you receive a request which you believe is not valid for FOIA purposes, you should consider what advice and assistance you can provide the applicant to help them bring the request within technical compliance of FOIA.

[...]

The duty to provide advice and assistance extends as far as it would be reasonable for you to do so.

[...]

Generally, we recommend that you should treat the Code as a minimum standard and go beyond its provisions as a matter of good practice.

 

[Cowley]

I think that’s probably a good place to leave this.

Thanks everyone