Indian restaurant fined after serving peanut powder in ‘peanut-free' meal

A Lincolnshire hotel director has been fined after its restaurant served a curry dish as peanut free when it in fact contained peanut powder.

Noor Mohammed, director of the Windmill Hotel in Market Place, Alford, pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching food safety and hygiene regulations at Boston Magistrates' Court and was fined £369 and told to pay £1,000 towards costs.

On 22 October 2018 a Lincolnshire trading standards officer visited the Windmill Hotel Nayeema's Restaurant and took a food sample to check if it was allergen free.

Mark Keal, Lincolnshire Trading Standards manager said: "An unannounced officer spoke directly to Mr Mohammed and he confirmed that the lamb malay- mild with fruits was peanut free. However, when the curry arrived and the officer explained what was happening, she was then informed it might have peanuts in it by a member of staff."

Tests carried out by the public analyst on the curry revealed that it contained in the region of 3% peanuts and was "potentially harmful to consumers who are allergic".

Keal added: "Restaurants have a duty of care to serve food that is of the nature, substance or quality demanded by the consumer, and to ensure that it is allergen free if the customer has requested this.

" We were shocked to find that one ingredient used in preparing the meal was 100% peanut powder. He should have realised that there are potentially deadly consequences for customers with peanut allergies if they were served this meal."