Food Allergies

[Foreigner]

Eating out, in restaurant, hotels, airport lounges, airplanes may turn out catastrophic for those with allergies.

In the UK, all businesses are criminally liable if they do not provide specific details about allergenic ingredients leading to harm to diners.

This restauranteur faces jail time after conviction of manslaughter and related charges:

Curry house owner jailed for six years after customer dies from nut allergy

 

[love_the_life]

In the UK case the restauranteur was grossly negligent. It appears from the article that the owner was cutting corners and costs. Untrained staff would have no idea what was actually in the dishes and probably no one would have recognised that ground nut oil is peanut. The case highlights how difficult it is for those with allergies to order from a restaurant.

 

[harvyk]

I have a family member whom have allergies, and numerous times we've been out at restaurants despite her been meticulous in her explanation of her allergies (and carrying around a sheet of paper explaining what is and isn't allowed) the kitchen staff have ignored her instructions, often assuming allergies simply meant she simply disliked the items, or assumed that she could simply push the offending item to the side.

Kitchen staff and wait staff need to be trained on what exactly an allergy is, and how it differs from a simple dislike of some foods, and how ignoring an allergy can equal death.

For the record, I've been very well trained on using the food item in question when this family member is around at my place, to the point that I either won't cook with this food item, or ensure that I only start cooking with this food item once I have finished cooking all other items which this family member may eat, last thing I want is for even the utensils getting contaminated with the juices of this food item.

 

[Isochronous]

I have a family member whom have allergies, and numerous times we've been out at restaurants despite her been meticulous in her explanation of her allergies (and carrying around a sheet of paper explaining what is and isn't allowed) the kitchen staff have ignored her instructions, often assuming allergies simply meant she simply disliked the items, or assumed that she could simply push the offending item to the side.

Kitchen staff and wait staff need to be trained on what exactly an allergy is, and how it differs from a simple dislike of some foods, and how ignoring an allergy can equal death.

For the record, I've been very well trained on using the food item in question when this family member is around at my place, to the point that I either won't cook with this food item, or ensure that I only start cooking with this food item once I have finished cooking all other items which this family member may eat, last thing I want is for even the utensils getting contaminated with the juices of this food item.

I hope she complains robustly each time and declines to pay for her share of the meal.

I find that high end places are pretty good with this though - for example at Maha they served soup with nuts in it despite me telling them about my allergy. They waived the charge for the entire set menu I ordered and were very good with offering an epipen (in case I didn't have my own) and providing whatever drinks I wanted. Obviously it was far from impressive that it happened, but the service recovery was very good.

 

[harvyk]

I hope she complains robustly each time and declines to pay for her share of the meal.

Oh yes very much (and rightly) so.