Curry sold containing nuts could have led to death

Oldham Council have successfully prosecuted a restaurant which sold a potentially harmful meal.

In May 2017, Council Environmental Health Officers rang Nandini on Manchester Road, Oldham, and ordered a chicken curry.

The officer asked if the meal contained nuts and was told there wasn’t.

When the officers collected the meal they spoke to the chef about the preparation of the curry.

The chef advised that no nuts had been used.

When looking around the premises a large box of peanut powder was seen in one of the preparation rooms and officers were advised that this was used in five or six dishes.

The staff and managers were advised by environmental health officers that even small amounts of peanut can lead to severe, even fatal reactions in people with a nut allergy.

The curry was sent for formal analysis and was found to contain peanuts.

On May 16 this year the owners of the restaurant A & J Nandini Catering Limited, pleaded guilty to two offences of the Food Safety Act 1990 at hearing at Tameside Magistrates’ Court.

On July 25, the company was fined £6,000 per offence – a total of £12,000 - and ordered to pay costs of £1198.10.

Councillor Arooj Shah, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “When the safety of residents is put at risk we will not hesitate to take action. 

“Allergic reactions can make people very ill and in some cases can unfortunately lead to death.

"All our food businesses must provide the correct allergen information about the ingredients that is in the food they make or serve to their customers.”

According to the Food Standards Authority, it is estimated that 1-2 per cent of adults and 5-8 per cent of children in the UK have a food allergy.

This equates to around two million people living with a food allergy, and this figure does not include those with food intolerances.

The Food Information for Consumers Regulations require food businesses to provide accurate allergy information on foods sold unpackaged, in for example catering outlets, deli counters, bakeries and sandwich bars. 

For those wanting to know more about food allergens the FSA has a free online allergen training tool which may be useful: http://allergytraining.food.gov.uk/ 

Also, further information regarding managing food allergens can be found at: www.food.gov.uk

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