Restaurant operator fined after woman suffered anaphylactic shock

The operator of a Newcastle restaurant has been fined after a woman with a peanut allergy went into anaphylactic shock on her 18th birthday.

Eleanor Lincoln ate a takeaway, chicken tikka masala, at home as part of a family birthday celebration in March 2021. She went into anaphylactic shock and had to be treated with adrenalin via an Epi pen before being taken to hospital by ambulance.

Doctors at the Royal Victoria Infirmary administered steroids. She was kept in hospital overnight for observation and discharged the next day.

In response, Newcastle City Council’s Environmental Health Team launched an investigation.

It found that the family had specifically asked for no peanuts, but despite this peanut and almond protein were found in the meal.

The operator, Samir Najeeb, of Khan’s Restaurant, Heaton Road, Newcastle, was charged with two breaches, one under Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations and one under the Food Safety Act. He pleaded not guilty to both charges but was found guilty of the Food Hygiene Regulations charge. The charge under the Food Safety Act was dismissed by the court.

He was fined £450 and told to pay £3,000 in costs at Newcastle Magistrates Court.

Cabinet member for a Dynamic City, Cllr Irim Ali, who has responsibility for regulation, said: “People have died from food allergies and contaminated food from takeaways and restaurants.

“I can’t emphasise enough the seriousness of this case. Thankfully Eleanor is fit and well now.

“The case highlights the need for very strict management of food orders and great care needed when serving food. There is no room for complacency or error.

“The public must be confident that businesses are safe and take no risk with their safety. We are committed to supporting businesses with training and help but will hold those to account that put lives at risk.”