WHAT DO YOU THINK? SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY TO 'POST A COMMENT'.A SLICE of apple and a Ferguson Street cafe have reignited the debate about what customers are entitled to bring into local eateries.
An Altona couple has lashed out at a Williamstown eatery for refusing to let their 11-month-old daughter Ruby eat an apple on the premises.
The incident occurred earlier this month when Chris, who didn't want his surname revealed, his wife Rachael and Ruby visited Provisions at Ferguson Street for brunch.
But the cafe's defence of its response has failed to win support from neighbouring traders.
Chris said he was "absolutely gob-smacked" when a staff member told him that bringing food into the cafe was not allowed.
"They said if my daughter wanted an apple, I'd have to buy one from them," he said. "I've never heard of anything so ridiculous. My first instinct was to get up and walk out. They only complained when our food was brought out.
"We had spoken with a couple of staff members prior to the incident.
"We ordered our food and asked them to adjust the heating. I'm almost 100per cent sure Ruby was already eating a slice of apple, but noone seemed to notice or care.
"Next thing we know, the food arrived and we were told we couldn't feed her anything we'd brought from home."
Chris said the staff member told him that it was due to health regulations.
But Department of Health spokesman Bram Alexander said he knew of no such law.
"I struggle to see why anyone would prevent a child from eating an apple in a cafe or restaurant; and then say it was a health regulation," Mr Alexander said.
"There is nothing official in the food standards code to back the claim. Consumers can make their own judgment on whether they think it is fair to be treated that way."
But Provisions manager Luke Coppola defended his cafe policy of disallowing "outside food" on the premises, and said it ensured a safe environment for all customers.
"Anything consumed on the premises must be purchased on the premise," Mr Coppola said.
"It may sound unfair to refuse a baby, but where do we draw the line? There's an A4 sign at eye level on the entrance door about BYO food, so they [customers] know before they come in."
Chris said he did not see the sign and was not told about it when he entered.
"I only noticed the sign after, when we left, but it's a sliding door and when the door's open it's not visible."
Mr Coppola said there was an exception to his rule. "We allow people to bring food for their children if the food is pureed because that is a service we don't provide."
Other cafe owners in Williamstown contacted by this reporter did not support Mr Coppola's stance.
John Boreham, owner of Sassi Cafe and Bar in Douglas Parade, said he had no issue with customers feeding their children with their own food.
"I've got two ladies here at the moment [on Monday] and they're feeding their two-year-old children sandwiches they brought from home. I don't see any problem with it at all."
Another cafe owner agreed with Mr Boreham. "We've had the same thing happen here on many occasions. I don't have an issue with it," she said.
"I have a little boy and I would hope that if I went to a cafe and took food from home for him, it would be acceptable. To deny a child an apple is ridiculous; to say it's illegal because of health and safety is also ridiculous."
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