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The Rise of Allergy Claims and Awareness

Allergy claims are now on the rise and despite the severe allergic reactions there seems to be some complacency from some restaurants and food outlets when it comes to dietary requests.

For businesses, especially those in the food and hospitality industry, providing full and proper training for staff is not a recommendation – it’s a requirement. Staff must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle allergy requests safely and correctly. Not doing so can have serious consequences including life threatening allergic reactions.

Training should include:

1. Allergens: Staff must learn to identify common food allergens such as tree nuts, gluten, dairy and shellfish. They should also understand the hidden risks of cross contamination where even tiny amounts of allergens can trigger a reaction in a sensitive person.

2. The Risks: Staff need to understand the severity of an allergic reaction. They need to know that these are not minor irritations but can escalate into anaphylactic shock a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention to prevent a fatal reaction.

3. Clear Communication: Staff must be trained to handle dietary requests with care and answer all allergen related questions correctly. Miscommunication or complacency can lead to customers being served food with allergens in and dangerous outcomes.

4. Label and Ingredient Checks: Businesses must check food labels and pre-packed food rigorously to ensure all allergen information is correct. Training should focus on being vigilant in this area to prevent mistakes that can harm customers.

5. Emergency Response: Staff should be trained to recognise the initial symptoms of an allergic reaction such as hives, stomach cramps or difficulty breathing and know what to do. This includes calling for emergency assistance and administering adrenaline if necessary.

The reality is that allergic reactions can be devastating and life changing or fatal. Training protects customers and businesses from liability and reinforces the importance of taking dietary requests seriously and acting responsibly.

Mark Bonney’s review highlights the importance of training and diligence in managing allergy risks, praising Carter & Carter Solicitors for their persistence and expertise:

What types of Allergic Reactions?

Here are just a few of the different types of allergic reactions which may give rise to allergy compensation claims in certain circumstances.

Clearly an allergy sufferer must be careful about what they eat and rely on food service providers to communicate accurately to prevent life threatening reactions. The emotional and physical impact of allergic reactions can lead to ongoing anxiety about eating food prepared by others.

Nut Allergies

Nut Allergies are becoming more common and can cause a serious anaphylactic reaction requiring immediate medical attention. Tree Nut Allergies can cause a severe reaction including anaphylaxis which requires immediate medical attention. We get asked by nut allergy sufferers who have mistakenly eaten nuts when eating out even though they have told the food provider they are a nut allergy sufferer and cannot eat nuts for medical reasons. In some cases Tree Nut Allergies can be fatal so proper allergen labelling and communication is crucial. 

Hair Dye Allergies

The problem with hair dye is that the chemicals in the dye can cause an allergic reaction which can be serious and fatal. The key to this is to make sure the Hair Stylist does a “patch test” before the main treatment so there is a warning if the client is or has become allergic to any of the ingredients in the formula. If this is not done then there a Hair Dye claim may be made.

Gluten Allergies

Many people have a wheat intolerance and again it’s so important that food labelling is accurate and can be relied upon. Restaurants across the land are saying they have a gluten free menu but sadly as we know all too well mistakes are made with devastating consequences.

Gluten allergies and intolerances including conditions like celiac disease are becoming more common and for those with these sensitivities even small amounts of gluten can cause significant health issues. So accurate and reliable food labelling is key to ensure safety and trust in the food industry.

While many restaurants and food producers now offer gluten free options the reality is mistakes are still being made. Claims of gluten free meals don’t always match the preparation method and people are still being inadvertently exposed to gluten. This can happen through several ways:

1. Cross Contamination: Even when a meal is gluten free the contact with gluten containing foods during preparation can contaminate. Shared cooking utensils, surfaces or fryers can all introduce gluten into a meal that’s meant to be safe for those with gluten sensitivities.

2. Inaccurate Labelling on Packaged Foods: Pre-packaged food has gluten free labels but not always adheres to allergen labelling regulations or errors in production means gluten is still present.

3. Miscommunication: Staff that are not trained in handling dietary requests may serve meals that contain gluten to customers who have asked for gluten free options. This highlights the need for comprehensive education on allergen information.

Gluten Exposure Consequences

For those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance consuming gluten can cause:

• Abdominal pain and stomach cramps.

• Chronic digestive issues, including diarrhea and bloating.

• Long term health complications, such as malnutrition, osteoporosis and even life changing injuries in extreme cases.

Beyond physical symptoms repeated exposure to gluten can erode trust in food providers and people will feel unsafe and anxious about eating food prepared outside their homes.

Latex Allergies

Latex allergic reactions are to the proteins in the latex or to the chemicals used in the manufacturing process. Interestingly the sufferer can be allergic to the latex substance itself but also to the microscopic powder that can become airborne and then inhaled.

Shellfish Allergies

Shellfish allergies are one of the most severe food allergies with reactions often unpredictable and life threatening. While it’s well known that consuming shellfish like shrimp, lobster or crab can trigger an allergic reaction it’s not as well known that shellfish allergens can be hidden in unexpected places. So vigilance and awareness is key for those with shellfish allergies.

Unexpected Sources of Shellfish Allergens

Shellfish can be found in places beyond the obvious seafood dishes. For example:

• Food Additives: Shellfish extracts are used in flavourings or sauces like fish sauce in Asian cuisine.

• Cross Contamination: Shared cooking surfaces, utensils or fryers in restaurants can cause accidental exposure.

• Processed Foods: Some processed or pre-made foods may contain undeclared shellfish ingredients so accurate food labelling is key.

Even small amounts of shellfish protein can cause severe allergic reactions which is why individuals need clear allergen information and careful preparation from food businesses.

Dairy Allergies

It’s a common myth that Dairy Allergies only cause mild reactions but nothing could be further from the truth. Dairy Allergies are actually the 3rd most common food to cause anaphylaxis after peanuts and tree nuts.

With life changing injuries or even fatalities possible, managing dairy allergies requires awareness. For those affected understanding your rights and food providers adhering to allergen regulations is key.

If you have been injured due to a dairy allergy seek advice from experienced personal injury solicitors to discuss your claim.

Egg Allergies

Why do you need an Allergy Claims Solicitor?

We know from our many years of experience of dealing with compensation for an allergic reaction that clients often want to try to handle the claim themselves.

We understand the reasons why but almost inevitably any offer of compensation will be a long way off what the client is entitled to for a life threatening allergic reaction and often the defendant will deny liability which will stop most people in their tracks.

Luckily many clients realise they need an allergy compensation claims solicitor to help them with their claim and once instructed we will get our heads down and Win the Argument and Get the Best Result.

Making an allergic reaction compensation claim can be a complicated and difficult process and many people initially want to handle their own case. While this may seem like the easy option unfortunately it often leads to bad results.

When dealing with the complexities of claims the expertise of an allergy claims solicitor can make all the difference.

Self Representation Challenges

Without legal knowledge clients will face:

1. Low Settlement Offers: Defendants or their insurance companies will undervalue the claim. Offers made without a solicitor will not take into account the full extent of the damages including medical expenses, emotional suffering and long term effects like life changing injuries.

2. Complex Legal Process: Making a claim involves gathering evidence, filing documentation, negotiating with insurers and potentially going to court. Without the knowledge and experience clients will struggle to manage these steps.

3. Defendant Denial: In many cases the defendant will deny liability altogether. This can be daunting for those who are not familiar with the legal system and will leave them with no compensation at all.

Why Choose an Allergy Claims Solicitor

Having an experienced personal injury solicitor who specialises in allergic reaction claims will mean your case is handled properly and efficiently. The benefits include:

1. Legal Expertise: Solicitors know the law surrounding allergy claims and can identify the strongest parts of your case. This is particularly useful when dealing with complex cases like food business negligence or cross contamination.

2. Getting the Most Compensation: A solicitor can calculate the value of your claim to make sure you get compensation for all damages including medical expenses, lost income, emotional suffering and future care needs. This will get you the maximum compensation you are entitled to.

3. Building Your Case: Solicitors gather and present evidence, medical records, witness statements, allergen information failures or food labelling errors. This will strengthen your position when negotiating or in court.

4. Dealing with Defendants and Insurers: Legal professionals will deal with all correspondence with defendants and their insurers to counter any attempts to undervalue or dismiss your claim.

5. No Financial Risk: some solicitors (like us) offer a no win no fee agreement so if for any reason your claim is lost you don’t have to pay a penny. This removes the financial burden and worry and allows you to focus on recovery while your solicitor pursues justice on your behalf.

Our Promise to You

We have years of experience in getting clients the compensation they deserve after severe allergic reactions. Once you instruct us we will:

• Win the Argument: Prove the defendant’s liability with evidence.

• Get the Best Result: Get you a fair and full settlement for all your suffering and loss.

Get in Touch?

Why not call now?

Our Allergy Claims solicitors will always make time to speak to all potential clients and we can often give you a good idea if your allergy compensation claim has a chance of success straight away over the phone.

We won’t give you the hard sell – just a honest professional opinion based on over 30 years of helping clients like you.

Why choose us?  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐